Everything You've Heard About Istanbul's Haunting Melancholy is True
There are some wonderful descriptions of Istanbul in 19th century literature. Should you be wondering what it's like here, these descriptions really are still absolutely true.
If Edward Said thinks the Orientalist perspective on the Orient is somehow lacking, it is only because he thought through this problem while living in Manhattan.
... The vision of this morning has vanished. The Constantinople of light and beauty has given place to a monstrous city, scattered about over an infinity of hills and valleys; it is a labyrinth of human ant-hills, cemeteries, ruins and solitary places; a confusion of civilisation and barbarity which presents an image of all the cities upon earth, and gathers to itself all the aspects of human life. It is really only the skeleton of a great city –the walls, which form only a small part –while the rest is enormous agglomeration of shacks, an interminable Asiatic encampment swarming with peoples of every race and religion who have never been counted. It is a great city in the process of transformation, composed of ancient cities that are in decay, new cities which emerged yesterday, and other cities now being born; everything is in confusion; on every side can be seen the vestiges of gigantic works, mountains bored through, hills cut down, entire districts leveled to the ground, great streets laid out; an immense mass of debris and remains of conflagrations upon ground forever tormented by the hand of man. The most incongruous objects are all jumbled together, an endless procession of bizarre and unexpected sights that make your head spin. You walk along a fine residential street to find it end in a gorge; you come out of the theatre and to find yourself surrounded by tombs. ...
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After a few hours spent in this way, should any one suddenly ask what is Constantinople like? You could only strike your hand upon your forehead, and try to still the tempest of thoughts. Constantinople is a Babylon, a world, a chaos. Beautiful? Wonderfully beautiful? Ugly? –It is horrible! –Did you like it? Madly. Would you live in it? How can I tell! – who could say that he would willingly live in another planet?
-- Edmondo de Amicis
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Re: Everything You've Heard About Istanbul's Haunting Melancholy is True
I miss Istanbul every time I allow myself to think of it. Claire, if you have not yet done so, you should set a novel there.
Aug '10
Re: Everything You've Heard About Istanbul's Haunting Melancholy is True
Stamboul's just a big ol' city. Montevideo has more to do with its hinterland than I-town ever could with its. (Better beaches and steaks, too.) But if one must set a novel in Turkey, do so in Trabzon. Far more exotic. Darker. Steeper. Colder. Just plain farther.
Re: Everything You've Heard About Istanbul's Haunting Melancholy is True
Of course I've done so, Paul.
Oct '10
Re: Everything You've Heard About Istanbul's Haunting Melancholy is True
But...isn't all 19th century European literature melancholy? Wonderfully written, to be sure, but melancholy nonetheless?