When Gypsies Entered Literature

When Gypsies Entered Literature

Throughout history, the Gypsy has been a symbol of a life that was either cursed or desired. Its appeal in both senses has made it an important material for art. In periods when urbanization and settled life were glorified as values, and the loss of nature was not felt, displacement and homelessness, and the struggle for survival, led to their perception as ominous and malevolent, and the Gypsy became an important material for satire. Studies show that the perception of Gypsies in literature, painting, music, and other fine arts, as well as in real life, has evolved in a positive direction over time. Selahattin Enis's story "The Gypsies," which contains harsh descriptions, and Reşat Nuri's story "The Gypsy's Dog," which contains humane elements, are successful examples of these two extreme perceptions. This positive perspective has yielded its finest works in the hands of writers such as Sabahattin Ali, Halikarnas Balıkçısı, Osman Cemal Kaygılı, and Berna Durmaz.

The Gypsies in Literature Drawing its material primarily from literary texts, the essays in this book comprehensively portray the Roma people, their livelihoods, nomadic and neighborhood lives, entertainment customs, marriages, and their closeness and distance to the societies in which they live. Essays on sociology, folk culture, and European painting also enrich the work.

Series: Turkish Literature - Analysis

 Dimensions: 13.5 x 21 cm

 Number of Pages: 565

 ISBN: 978-625-7660-71-6

 Publication Year: November 2021

 Prepared by: Şerife Çağın, Özlem Nemutlu