The first session held at the AA Istanbul International News Center, moderated by AA Strategic Communications & Brand Management Director Hazal Duran, discussed the immortal work “Türk'ün Ateşle İmtihanı” (The Trial of Turk by Fire) by Halide Edip Adıvar, one of the symbolic figures of the National Struggle and also one of the founding pioneers of Anadolu Ajansı.
The Book Club event was also attended by Serdar Karagöz, President & Chief Executive Officer of Anadolu Ajansı; Yusuf Özhan, AA Vice President & Editor-In-Chief; Yahya Bostan, AA Academy & Editorial Coordinator; and Oğuz Karakaş, AA Publications & Productions Coordinator.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nagihan Haliloğlu, who works at Boğaziçi University, said in her assessment during the session that Halide Edip Adıvar had many qualities and was a profound writer on the path from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic.
Haliloğlu stated that Adıvar bore the traces of the era in which she lived, saying, “She comes from an elite family. She was actually raised for this task, as someone who could carry the values of the Ottoman Empire. However, she was also raised in a way that would enable her to pioneer a new development. Her father was already a very close associate of Abdülhamid. She was raised in the palace environment.”
Haliloğlu noted that Adıvar began writing at reign of Abdülhamid II and the turbulent period that followed, adding:
"Halide Edip Adıvar had close contact with many people. Because she represented Turkish Muslim girls, she always thought and wrote about presenting us to the outside world. She is someone who knows the Ottoman and Islamic history and was educated at the American College. She traveled around Anatolia and taught at a school before the Turkish War of Independence began. She knew the multicultural structure of the Ottoman Empire very closely. That is why she was always in favor of multiculturalism."
Assoc. Prof. Haliloğlu explained that Halide Edip Adıvar included her conversations with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in her book “Türk'ün Ateşle İmtihanı” (The Trial of Turk by Fire).
Speaking about Adıvar's versatility, Haliloğlu said, “She worked both on the front lines and in hospitals. The fact that she founded the Anadolu Ajansı in Ankara also points to this versatility. She encountered so many interesting stories during the Turkish War of Independence that when she saw a character, she quickly decided to make them the main protagonist.”
“Halide Edip says that women represent their homeland.”
Assoc. Prof. Haliloğlu notes that Halide Edip Adıvar had a high level of self-confidence because she was part of an empire, saying, "They don't worry about how they appear to others. 'How do I appear in this community, how do I appear to the public, perhaps how do I appear to the palace, how do I appear to the outside world?' Instead, I feel that Turkish intellectuals saw themselves as equal to their European counterparts. I think this is the biggest difference. What we need is self-confidence, I can say that. They look at their own education, at what they have learned, and truly believe in it. They have a very comparative perspective."
Noting that Adıvar has a female side that has been forgotten by society, Haliloğlu shared the following:
"Halide Edip says that women represent the homeland. Because the mother of the children to be born represents the future. Some people have this captivating style. They have a dignified, wise demeanor. Halide Edip has this quality. If we studied Halide Edip a little more, learned a little more about her, she would be an exemplary figure for women. Not just for women, but for men as well."
“Book Club” event
The Book Club is a series of discussions that delves deeply into both the literary and cinematic aspects of a selected work of literature each month.
The events feature guest writers, critics, and academics who are experts in their fields, who discuss the content, themes, character structure, and social context of the period.
Participants are not merely listeners but also actively engage in the discussion.
Aiming to transform individual reading experiences into collective thought, the event also supports intellectual sharing and a culture of continuous learning within the organization.
