Derviş Vâsıf's Mevlevi Miscellany: Sufism in the 19th century from lodge to casino

This study explores the multifaceted identity of Derviş Vâsıf (d. after 1899)—a significant yet forgotten Mevlevi figure—through the first-time scholarly analysis of his personally compiled "Derviş Vâsıf Mevlevi Miscellany". Blending religious thought, literature, daily life, and entertainment, this text embodies the multilingual and multicultural texture of late 19th-century Ottoman society. Apparent oppositions—mysticism and desire, privacy and exposure—coexist, making the mecmua a uniquely rich document. Chapter One introduces Vâsıf and his miscellany, outlining the research scope, methods, and scholarly context. Chapter Two examines the linguistic, formal, and generic qualities of "Derviş Vâsıf's Mevlevi Miscellany", comparing it with similarly titled works. Chapter Three reconstructs Vâsıf's emotional and intellectual life—his love, rejection, and evolving identity—through close readings situated in Ottoman urban culture. Chapter Four focuses on the five senses as culturally and spiritually charged elements, exploring how modernization and secularization reshaped sensory regimes in late Ottoman Istanbul. Chapter Five summarizes key findings and evaluates the miscellany as a multi-layered memory text. Chapter Six presents a full transcription of folios 1a–51a, including poems, prose, and a previously unidentified nazire mecmua. A glossary of Mevlevi terms and digital mapping of Vâsıf's Istanbul—via MAXQDA and historical maps—enhance the interdisciplinary approach. Ultimately, Derviş Vâsıf's Mevlevi Miscellany emerges not merely as a literary collection but as a profound reflection of cultural transformation and Sufi expression in the late Ottoman world.