Novels ‘Alternate to History’: the representation of the second world war in Turkish period novels

Abstract

The Second World War is one which Turkey could not remain indifferent although it did not enter the war de facto. It was directly affected during the war and the aftermath in terms of international relationship as well as in its internal politics, social and economic conditions. These conditions preserved in collective memory are ruled out by the Turkish official history writing. In this respect, the era was depicted by some authors like Halide Edip Adıvar, Faik Baysal, Muzaffer Arabul, Mehmet Seyda, Attila İlhan, Vedat Türkali and Yılmaz Karakoyunlu who directly lived or experienced the effects of the conditions of the period. This thesis examines novels called period novels/zeitroman such Sonsuz Panayır, Rezil Dünya, Çakrazlar, Yanartaş, O Karanlıkta Biz, Güven and Salkım Hanım’ın Taneleri written by these authors respectively. These novels focus on certain matters of the era like women, war profiteer, famine, labor and military problem, right-left conflict. In addition to this, the novels are discussed according to their publication date, which affects their point of views and focuses. The thesis argues that the authors, though the novels are obviously fiction, claim that they tell “the truth” and through fiction they function as political objects. It also shows that the novels under discussion criticize the political, social and economic conditions of the era, depending on their authors’ political views and personal experiences. Finally, they openly blame fascism and hold responsible Germany for the war and Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (CHP) for the hard conditions witnessed Turkey facing during this period.