The town in the Turkish novel (1860-1960)

This study named "Town in the Turkish Novel" analyzed twenty five (25) novels; Çalıkuşu, Akşam Güneşi, Bir Kadın Düşmanı, Yeşil Gece, Acımak, Eski Hastalık, Ateş Gecesi, Değirmen, Kavak Yelleri, Son Sığınak, Vurun Kahpeye, Kuyucaklı Yusuf, İnsan Kurdu, Rahmet Yolları Kesti, Yediçınar Yaylası, Köyün Kamburu, Teneke, İnce Memed 1, Baba Evi, Zeliş, Aganta Burina Burinata, Nabi'nin Park Kahvesi, Denizin Çağırışı, Karanlık Dünya and Yağmur Duası, which were serialized/published between 1860-1960 and directly or mainly took place in a town, in detail in terms of individual and social topics. In the texts that are committed to the basis of narration; space, rather than just a decor is one of the major elements in analyzing and reflecting the mood and perception of characters and revealing the historical, political, cultural, economic and sociological properties of a geography. This study revealed the values and functions attributed to towns within the text. It was seen that the theme of town had been approached in the context of individual and social topics in all the aforementioned novels analyzed. This proves that the authors who observe the external world and reunite it with the literature, are on a critically realistic line in general. The novels approached several social facts such as the decline of the Ottoman Empire, War of Independence years, reality of poor and unsettled people, reflections of the revolution, bureaucracy and official duty understanding of the era, dominance of the landlords/gentry, impact of wrong religious perceptions on social life, education, woman-man relationships, degenerated relationships, social changes and conflicts from a critical point of view. By this way the study presented the existence and self-realization adventure of the individual. The novelists gave messages about altering the social order and raising awareness in people, via these work in general.