Socio-cultural dimensions of İstanbul in the novels of Refik Halid Karay

Refik Halid is a writer who witnessed the tumultuous events and socio-political transformations and he reflected those in his works throughout his literary career. His novels which are written with a realistic manner most generally take place in Istanbul. Refik Halid who witnessed the Constitutional period, the occupation, and republican period also depicted the huge transformation in Istanbul which he had to leave for a while because of his banishment. Even in the novels which do not take place in Istanbul, he portrayed Istanbul, being from Istanbul and Istanbul culture as a background. In this regard, this study examines Istanbul as the centre of setting in the novels of Refik Halid together with socio-cultural features. These elements have been classified in a meaningful whole and studied under the headings of social life, Istanbul's districts and houses, holy days, clothes and dressing up, and entertainment. As a result, the socio-cultural features of Istanbul in the novels of Refik Halid are classified as much as a fictional text permits. Key words: Refik Halid Karay, novel, Istanbul, society, culture, change