Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar
Encyclopedia
Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar was one of the most important modern novelists and essayists of Turkish literature
. He was also a member of the Turkish parliament (the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
) between 1942 and 1946.
on 23 June 1901. His father was a judge, Hüseyin Fikri Efendi. Tanpınar's mother died at Mosul
, when Tanpınar was thirteen. Because his father's vocation required frequent relocation, Tanpınar continued his education in several different cities, including Istanbul, Sinop
, Siirt
, Kirkuk
, and Antalya
. After quitting veterinary college, he resumed his educational career at the Faculty of Literature
at Istanbul University
, which he completed in 1923. As a literature teacher, he taught at high schools in Erzurum (1923–1924), Konya, Ankara, the Educational Institute of Gazi and the Fine Arts Academy. At the Fine Arts Academy, besides teaching literature, Tanpınar taught in branches of aesthetics in art
s, history of art
and mythology
(1932–1939). From 1942 to 1946, he entered the Turkish National Assembly as parliamentar of Kahramanmaraş
. In 1953, he made an extensive journey to Europe
, traveling many countries within six months such as France, Belgium, Holland, England, Spain and Italy. Tanpınar died of a heart attack on the 24 January 1962 in Istanbul. His grave is in the Aşiyan Graveyard, Istanbul.
. So the fact of bureaucratization is indeed incorporated into a broader problem: modernization
and its impact on the individual. Most of the characters of the novel seem to be struggling in quite weird manners in order to survive in modern times. In this way, the concept of "time
" occupies a central place, giving a deeper sense, even a philosophical taste to the novel.
Turkish literature
Turkish literature comprises both oral compositions and written texts in the Turkish language, either in its Ottoman form or in less exclusively literary forms, such as that spoken in the Republic of Turkey today...
. He was also a member of the Turkish parliament (the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
Grand National Assembly of Turkey
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey , usually referred to simply as the Meclis , is the unicameral Turkish legislature. It is the sole body given the legislative prerogatives by the Turkish Constitution. It was founded in Ankara on 23 April 1920 in the midst of the Turkish War of Independence...
) between 1942 and 1946.
Biography
Tanpınar was born in IstanbulIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
on 23 June 1901. His father was a judge, Hüseyin Fikri Efendi. Tanpınar's mother died at Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
, when Tanpınar was thirteen. Because his father's vocation required frequent relocation, Tanpınar continued his education in several different cities, including Istanbul, Sinop
Sinop, Turkey
Sinop is a city with a population of 36,734 on İnce Burun , by its Cape Sinop which is situated on the most northern edge of the Turkish side of Black Sea coast, in the ancient region of Paphlagonia, in modern-day northern Turkey, historically known as Sinope...
, Siirt
Siirt
- External links :* * * *...
, Kirkuk
Kirkuk
Kirkuk is a city in Iraq and the capital of Kirkuk Governorate.It is located in the Iraqi governorate of Kirkuk, north of the capital, Baghdad...
, and Antalya
Antalya
Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. With a population 1,001,318 as of 2010. It is the eighth most populous city in Turkey and country's biggest international sea resort.- History :...
. After quitting veterinary college, he resumed his educational career at the Faculty of Literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
at Istanbul University
Istanbul University
Istanbul University is a Turkish university located in Istanbul. The main campus is adjacent to Beyazıt Square.- Synopsis :A madrasa, a religious school, was established sometime in the 15th century after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. An institution of higher education named the...
, which he completed in 1923. As a literature teacher, he taught at high schools in Erzurum (1923–1924), Konya, Ankara, the Educational Institute of Gazi and the Fine Arts Academy. At the Fine Arts Academy, besides teaching literature, Tanpınar taught in branches of aesthetics in art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
s, history of art
History of art
The History of art refers to visual art which may be defined as any activity or product made by humans in a visual form for aesthetical or communicative purposes, expressing ideas, emotions or, in general, a worldview...
and mythology
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
(1932–1939). From 1942 to 1946, he entered the Turkish National Assembly as parliamentar of Kahramanmaraş
Kahramanmaras
-Industry:Kahramanmaraş's industry is mainly based on textile and ice cream. Kahramanmaraş is one of the biggest textile industry cities of Turkey. Companies like Kipaş, İskur, Arsan and Bozkurt are one of the richest companies in the city...
. In 1953, he made an extensive journey to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, traveling many countries within six months such as France, Belgium, Holland, England, Spain and Italy. Tanpınar died of a heart attack on the 24 January 1962 in Istanbul. His grave is in the Aşiyan Graveyard, Istanbul.
Work
He is one of the most important authors of Turkish literature, successfully combining Eastern and Western cultures within his writings. Yahya Kemal Beyatlı played an important role in his upbringing. In his poetry, he uses Turkish classical music and dreaming as the texile of his works. Both in his poetry and novels psychological analyses, history, the characteristics of his time, the bound between the society and the individual, dreams and the problems of civilization are taken a great place. One of his most significant works, among others, is a novel entitled "The Time Regulation Institute" (Saatleri Ayarlama Enstitüsü) (2002 English paperback edition: ISBN 1-892381-03-6). The book has been widely acclaimed as an ironic criticism of the bureaucratization process with the implication that its title suggests, though that's not what the book is all about. In fact, the book can be read from quite different perspectives, and cannot be exhausted in only one. First of all, it is a great psychological analysis of a man who suffers from being unable to adapt himself to his time, in other words to modern timesModern Times
Modern Times can refer to modern history.It may also refer to:* Modern Times , a 1936 Charlie Chaplin film* Modern Times , a 1975 album by Al Stewart...
. So the fact of bureaucratization is indeed incorporated into a broader problem: modernization
Modernization
In the social sciences, modernization or modernisation refers to a model of an evolutionary transition from a 'pre-modern' or 'traditional' to a 'modern' society. The teleology of modernization is described in social evolutionism theories, existing as a template that has been generally followed by...
and its impact on the individual. Most of the characters of the novel seem to be struggling in quite weird manners in order to survive in modern times. In this way, the concept of "time
Time
Time is a part of the measuring system used to sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to quantify rates of change such as the motions of objects....
" occupies a central place, giving a deeper sense, even a philosophical taste to the novel.
Also in English
- A Mind at Peace, trans. by Erdag Göknar, Archipelago Books (2008) ISBN 0-9793330-5-9 (a story of the people of Istanbul, set at the beginning of World War II)
External links
- The Villa in Acibadem Translation of a story of Tanpınar
- Kalem Agency (copyright)
- İTEF - Istanbul Tanpinar Literature Festival