Dr. Abdullah Cevdet was one of the important figures in the history of politics and thought, both during the final period of the Ottoman Empire and in the early years of the newly established Republic of Turkey. While studying at the Medical School, he was greatly influenced by the lectures and textbooks there. While continuing his medical practice in various places, he also wrote articles to disseminate his ideas in various publications, both those he published himself and those published by others. He made many translations and was exiled or imprisoned for his political views, which were considered anti-Islamic or objectionable at the time, but despite all these difficulties, he never gave up expressing his ideas. Another striking feature of his personality was his literary side. He wrote poetry and made numerous translations, especially from French literature. Despite his life spent constantly moving between different geographical locations, he did not remain distant from the literature of his time and wrote articles expressing his thoughts and comments on important figures in Turkish literature, their works, and newly published magazines. Our aim in this study is to reveal the literary side of Abdullah Cevdet, who is remembered in Turkish politics for his stance in favor of “complete Westernization” and who continued his career as a doctor, and to evaluate his articles in the İçtihat magazine, especially those related to his period. This will help reveal his multifaceted personality.
Abdullah Cevdet, İçtihat Journal, litterateurs, literary works, literary events.