Life of Suat Derviş, literature personality and gothic features (horror literature) in her novels

Suat Derviş (1905-1972) is one of the important authors of Republican Era Turkish Literature. She had works in many different genres such as column, narration, translation and novel. In her novels such as; Fosforlu Cevriye, Ankara Mahpusu, Hiç, Aksaray'dan Bir Perihan, Çılgın Gibi, Hiçbiri, it is seen that she has touched on social issues and women's problems. Her name is associated with socialist realism. But, gothic traces are seen in her early novels. Therefore, Derviş's four novels which are written in 1920s (Kara Kitap, Ne Bir Ses Ne Bir Nefes, Buhran Gecesi, Fatma'nın Günahı) and two novels written in 1930s and published serially (Onu Bekliyorum, Onları Ben Öldürdüm) have been subjected to close reading and addressed as horror novels. It is seen that Derviş's early novels written in 1920s, were built on the elements of fear and tension. Common themes and events such as curse, sin, revenge, death, suicide, dark spirits, bloody murder and satanic spirit capture were encountered. Night, lightning, wind and autumn usually accompanied the places such as grave, hell, mysterious pavilion, dark room, mansion and underground. With the help of fantastic events and imaginary people, the atmosphere of fear and tension has been provided. In Turkish literature, the number of works that can be included in horror literature is very few. For this reason, Dervis's gothic novels are important in the development of Turkish literature.