Folk Tales from Turkey


Book Description

Discover the Enchantment of Turkey’s Most Treasured Folk Tales Step into a world where cleverness outsmarts brute strength, where love breaks the most powerful curses, and where seven brothers unite to vanquish a fearsome giant. Folk Tales from Turkey: Legends of Cleverness, Courage, and Magic is a captivating collection of Turkey's most beloved folk tales, brought together in a beautifully crafted volume that will transport readers to a land rich in history, wisdom, and wonder. In this first installment of our Folk Tales from Turkey series, readers of all ages will embark on thrilling adventures alongside unforgettable characters: the quick-witted Nasreddin Hodja, whose humor and wisdom illuminate life’s mysteries; Keloglan, the clever bald-headed boy who triumphs against all odds; and the brave seven brothers who must outwit a formidable giant to save their village. These timeless stories, steeped in the vibrant landscapes and rich cultural heritage of Turkey, offer profound lessons and insights that resonate across generations. A Treasure Trove of Timeless Wisdom More than just tales, these stories are the distilled teachings of human culture, filled with profound knowledge and timeless wisdom. They are a joy to read, with universal themes of bravery, cleverness, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. Perfect for readers of all ages, these folk tales are not only entertaining but also serve as a bridge to understanding the culture from which they originate. Folk tales are the foundation of human storytelling, offering a unique window into the values, hopes, and fears of a people. Understanding a culture is best done through the stories it tells, and in this volume, you’ll find a rich tapestry of Turkish tradition, ready to be passed down and cherished for generations to come. A Must-Have for Any Library or Bookshelf We envision this collection as a treasure that any library or bookshelf can hold and pass on to future generations—so they too can be inspired and draw teachings from our ancestors' stories. Whether you’re a lover of mythology, a seeker of adventure, or a parent wanting to introduce your children to the wonders of storytelling. Folk Tales from Turkey is more than just a book; it’s a journey into the heart of a culture, a celebration of the art of storytelling, and a preservation of a priceless cultural heritage. Add this volume to your collection today and become a part of the timeless tradition of folk tales that continue to inspire and teach us about the world and ourselves. Key Features: Epic Turkish Legends: Immerse yourself in the rich folklore of Turkey, with stories that have been passed down through generations, capturing the essence of the nation’s mythological heritage. Perfect for All Ages: With stories that are as entertaining as they are educational, this collection is suitable for readers young and old, offering something for everyone. Cultural Insight: Gain a deeper understanding of Turkish culture and values through interpretations and analyses of the folk tales that have shaped the nation’s identity. Beautifully Crafted: Designed to be a timeless keepsake, this book is a treasure that will enhance any personal library or bookshelf. A pleasure to read, filled with profound timeless knowledge and teachings, this collection is suited for all ages. Folk tales are the foundation of human storytelling, and understanding a culture is best done through the stories they tell. We see folk tales as distilled teachings of human culture—their value is unfathomable, a cultural inheritance that should be cherished and preserved. We envision this collection as a treasure that will inspire and educate future generations, preserving the wisdom and wonder of our ancestors' stories.




FORTY-FOUR TURKISH FAIRY TALES


Book Description

This volume is a treasure chest of classic Eastern tales drawing on the rich folklore of Turkey. Forty-four Turkish Fairy Tales has not been in print for almost 100 years, mainly because the original edition had lavish production standards. On the used market, mint copies of the 1913 original can cost up to four figures. This volume is appropriately titled Fairy Tales because something definitely 'fairy' occurs. There are talking animals, flying horses, birds that magically change into beautiful maidens, quests to win the hand of a princess, magical objects, simple, yet brave, peasants, wizards, witches, dragons and dungeons, epic journeys, and loveable fools. The majority of these stories contain encounters with 'Dews', or Turkish supernatural beings, better known in the West as 'Genies.' Sometimes the Turkish Dews are also called 'Arabs ' There are many other specifically Turkish elements and references in the stories, for which the glossary at the end of the book is of particular help. So this isn't simply an orientalised set of European Tales, but was drawn from an authentic Turkish oral storytelling tradition by Dr. Ignacz Kunos . Plus, there are almost 200 illustrations exquisitely crafted by Willy Pogany. While our production is not as lavish as the original, it does contain the original illustrations. Note: some of the illustrations could be considered unsuitable by 21st Century standards because they can be considered as caricatures with obvious ethnic stereotypes. However, in most cases, the illustrator is portraying imaginary creatures, which are supposed to be grotesque. Also to be remembered is the book was originally produced in 1913 when the world's attitudes towards racial tolerance and acceptance were quite different to those of today. 33% of the net will be donated to charities in Turkey for education scholarships




Medieval Oral Literature


Book Description

Medieval literature is to a large degree shaped by orality, not only with regard to performance, but also to transmission and composition. Although problems of orality have been much discussed by medievalists, there is to date no comprehensive handbook on this topic. ‘Medieval Oral Literature’, a volume in the ‘De Gruyter Lexikon’ series, was written by an international team of twenty-five scholars and offers a thorough discussion of theoretical approaches as well as detailed presentations of individual traditions and genres. In addition to chapters on the oral-formulaic theory, on the interplay of orality and writing in the Early Middle Ages, on performance and performers, on oral poetics and on ritual aspects of orality, there are chapters on the Older Germanic, Romance, Middle High German, Middle English, Celtic, Greek-Byzantine, Russian, Hebrew, Arabic, Persian and Turkish traditions of oral literature. There is a special focus on epic and lyric, genres that are also discussed in separate chapters, with additional chapters on the ballad and on drama.




Minstrel Tales from Southeastern Turkey


Book Description

University Of California Publications, Folklore Studies Is In Five Volumes. Volume 1, The Italian Wellerism To The End Of The Seventeenth Century, By Charles Speroni; Volume 2, The Shepherds' Play Of The Prodigal Son, By George C. Barker; Volume 3, Proverbial Comparisons And Similes From California, By Archer Taylor; Volume 4, Coloquios De Pastores From Jalisco, Mexico, By Stanley L. Robe; Volume 5, Minstrel Tales From Southeastern Turkey, By Wolfram Eberhard.







101 Middle Eastern Tales and Their Impact on Western Oral Tradition


Book Description

A comprehensive exploration of the Middle Eastern roots of Western narrative tradition. Against the methodological backdrop of historical and comparative folk narrative research, 101 Middle Eastern Tales and Their Impact on Western Oral Tradition surveys the history, dissemination, and characteristics of over one hundred narratives transmitted to Western tradition from or by the Middle Eastern Muslim literatures (i.e., authored written works in Arabic, Persian, and Ottoman Turkish). For a tale to be included, Ulrich Marzolph considered two criteria: that the tale originates from or at least was transmitted by a Middle Eastern source, and that it was recorded from a Western narrator's oral performance in the course of the nineteenth or twentieth century. The rationale behind these restrictive definitions is predicated on Marzolph's main concern with the long-lasting effect that some of the "Oriental" narratives exercised in Western popular tradition—those tales that have withstood the test of time. Marzolph focuses on the originally "Oriental" tales that became part and parcel of modern Western oral tradition. Since antiquity, the "Orient" constitutes the quintessential Other vis-à-vis the European cultures. While delineation against this Other served to define and reassure the Self, the "Orient" also constituted a constant source of fascination, attraction, and inspiration. Through oral retellings, numerous tales from Muslim tradition became an integral part of European oral and written tradition in the form of learned treatises, medieval sermons, late medieval fabliaux, early modern chapbooks, contemporary magazines, and more. In present times, when national narcissisms often acquire the status of strongholds delineating the Us against the Other, it is imperative to distinguish, document, visualize, and discuss the extent to which the West is not only indebted to the Muslim world but also shares common features with Muslim narrative tradition. 101 Middle Eastern Tales and Their Impact on Western Oral Tradition is an important contribution to this debate and a vital work for scholars, students, and readers of folklore and fairy tales.




The Book of Dede Korkut


Book Description

“The Book of Dede Korkut has been called the Iliad of the Turks . . . An excellent translation in English . . . Smooth, highly readable, enlightening.” —Books Abroad One of the oldest surviving pieces of Turkish literature, The Book of Dede Korkut can be traced to tenth-century origins. Now considered the national epic of Turkey, it is the heritage of the ancient Oghuz Turks and was composed as they migrated westward from their homeland in Central Asia to the Middle East, eventually to settle in Anatolia. Who its primary creator was no one knows, the titular bard, Dede Korkut, being more a symbol of Turkish minstrelsy than a verifiable author. The songs and tales of countless minstrels lay behind The Book of Dede Korkut, and in its oral form the epic was undoubtedly subject to frequent improvisation by individual performers. Partly in prose, partly in verse, these legends were sung or chanted in the courts and camps of political and military leaders. Even after they had been recorded in written form, they remained part of an oral tradition. The present edition is the first complete text in English. The translators provide an excellent introduction to the language and background of the legends as well as a history of Dede Korkut scholarship. These outstanding tales will be of interest to all students of world mythology and folklore. “A masterwork of [tenth-century] Turkish literature—and perhaps as one of the world’s most impressive national epics . . . with its action-packed narrative in prose and verse, [it] unfurls a fascinating panorama of Turkish tribal and feudal life—warfare, hunts, festivities, plunders, preternatural phenomena, heroics and love.” —Middle East Journal




Global Perspectives on Literary Tourism and Film-Induced Tourism


Book Description

At the end of the 20th century, the traditional forms of tourism transformed; they expanded by the introduction of new postmodern tourist forms, bringing innovative offers to the marketplace. Two of these new fast-growing forms are literary tourism and film-induced tourism, both of which fall under the umbrella of cultural tourism. Both niches of cultural tourism share the need to create products and experiences that meet the tourists’ expectations. Global Perspectives on Literary Tourism and Film-Induced Tourism discusses literary tourism and film-induced tourism and documents the advances in research on the intersections of literature, film, and the act of traveling. Covering a wide range of topics from film tourism destinations to digital literary tourism, this book is ideal for travel agents, tourism agencies, tour operators, government officials, postgraduate students, researchers, academicians, cultural development councils and associations, and policymakers.