Abstract
READING CULTURE OF THE NOVEL HEROES OF TANZIMAT ERA AUTHORS
Modernization as a government policy which begins with the rescript of Gülhane, soon penetrates into all state organs accordingly effects the daily life. Throughout the centuries, the Ottoman society is molded by the Eastern culture, later on constitutes its own customs and traditions by creating its own culture. In the 19th century, the Ottoman society begins to come into close contact with the Eastern culture, thus steps in a new cradle of civilization and starts to question its own cultural identity.
At first step, Turkish literature takes form by the translation activities in this era and soon afterwards by publishing the copyrighted works, it starts to deal with the social issues. The authors of the Tanzimat era adopt the idea of social benefit so that their intellectual and literary activities aim to enlighten the society. Plenty of intellectuals and especially Ahmet Midhat Efendi who as well are novelists of the Tanzimat era, mention various issues of the society that experiences the westernization movement, in their works. However, if one looks through the native novels, it can be seen that the West has a profound impact on these works.
The aim of this study is to make a general overall evaluation concerning the reading culture of the Tanzimat era by analysing the reading activities of the protagonists. Accordingly, by determining whether the works which protagonists read have an impact or not on their world views, will be examined.
Keywords
Modern Turkish Literature, Literature of Tanzimat Era, Novel, Reading Culture, Ahmet Midhat Efendi
