The Politics of Memoirs and Memoir-Publishing in Twentieth Century Turkey

Rather than investigating memoirs as sources for writing history, this article attempts to discuss the political and ideological meanings attributed to memoirs and how the memoir-publishing industry was utilized for such dispositions and proclivities in twentieth century Turkey. The article also examines how different social, ideological, and cultural milieus and circles were interested and fascinated with autobiographical writings and memoirs. The article concludes with examining how memoirs subsequently became a contested area and perceived as assets and instruments to be employed against political and ideological opponents with the booming interest in memoirs publishing that began in the 1990s.