Pre-1928 Ottoman Turkish Literary Periodicals: The War of Independence and the Turkish Republic (1919-1928)

This list focuses on literary periodicals in Ottoman Turkish. In the interest of providing as comprehensive a listing as possible, the criteria for inclusion is relatively simple. I have opted to list any periodical publication (defined below) produced in the Ottoman Turkish language, or in a multilingual format that includes Ottoman Turkish, that expressly describes itself as a “literary” (“edebi”). Distinction will not be made between those works published inside the Ottoman Empire or outside of it. On occasion, works that do not include an explicit statement about their content will be included in the list if they exhibit many of the characteristics of a literary journal, i.e. literary criticism; publication of original poetry or prose works of fiction; translations of foreign literary works. Below find the titles relevant to the War of Independence and the Turkish Republic (1919-1928) period. Criteria for inclusion can be viewed here. Lists are also available for the Tanzimat (1839-1876), the Hamidian Period (1876-1908), and the Second Constitutional Period (1908-1923). The full list with all four periods included can be downloaded here. Credit goes to Michael Erdman and Hazine.

Anadolu Mecmuası: Ayda bir neşr olunur

آنادولو مجموعەسی: آيده بر نشر اولنور

Edited by Haydar Necip and published by the Anadolu Komandiyet Neşriyat Şirketi in Istanbul.

Monthly; 1 Nisan 1340 [1 April 1924] – Mart 1341 [March 1925].

A collection of scholarly articles by well-known intellectuals, this periodical featured content on both literature and other cultural issues. The emphasis of the journal was on an early form of Anadoluculuk, and on Turkish cultural production in Anatolia.

Büyük Mecmua: Perşembe Günleri Çıkar Edebi ve İlmi Haftalık Mecmuadır

بويوك مجموعه: پرشمبه‌ کونلری چقار ادبی و علمی هفته‌لق مجموعه‌در

Edited by Zekeriya Sertel and Sabiha Sertel and published by the Şirket-i Hayriye in Istanbul.

Weekly; 6 Mart 1919 – 25 Kanun-ı Evvel 1919 [25 December 1919].

This weekly magazine was published by noted leftist editors Zekeriya and Sabiha Sertel and featured the novelist and intellectual Halide Edip Adıvar as one of its key contributors. It covered literary as well as social and political topics and was stridently opposed to the British occupation of Istanbul.

Çankaya: Şimdilik Her Ayın On Beşinci Günü Neşr Olunur. ‘Halka Doğru’ Fikir ve Sanaat Mecmuasıdır

چاک قايا: شمديلك هر آيك اون بشنجى كونى نشر اولونور. “خلقه دوعرو” فكر و صنعت مجموعه سيدر

Edited by Mecdi Sadreddin and published in Ankara by Anadolu Maarif Kitabhanesi and in Istanbul by Matbaa-yı Ebüzziya.

Monthly?; 1 Mayıs 1928.

Only a single issue ever appeared of this monthly devoted to literary and cultural affairs. Nonetheless, Çankaya, to which Mithat Ömer was a frequent contributor, was devoted to a strictly Kemalist and populist approach to contemporary Turkish culture.

Darülfünun Edebiyat Fakültesi mecmuası

دار الفنون ادبیت فاکولته‌سی مجموعه‌سی

The editorial board included Mehmet Ali Ayni, Leiman Haupt, Gize, Ziya Gökalp, and possibly Kâzım Şinâsi as well; published in Istanbul by the Darülfünun Edebiyat Fakültesi (the University of Istanbul’s Faculty of Literature) and printed by the Matbaa-yı Ȃmire.

Bi-monthly; Mart 1332 [ March 1916] – İkinci kanun 1933 [January 1933].

As the publication of the University of Istanbul’s Faculty of Literature, this periodical carried scholarly articles on the history of Turkic and world literatures, as well as items related to ethnology, anthropology and history. Its early volumes demonstrate a clear Turkist leaning. With the imposition of the Latin alphabet in 1929, the periodical began publishing in Turkish.

Dergah: On beş günde bir neşr olunur ilm ve vaz’at mecmuası

دركاه: اون بش كونده بر نشر اولنور علم و وضعت مجموعه‌سی

Edited by Mustafa Nehat in Istanbul.

Biweekly; 15 Nisan 1337 [15 April 1921] – 5 Kanun-i Sani 1339 [5 January 1923].

A late-Ottoman periodical devoted to contemporary culture in Istanbul, Dergah carried pieces of literature and literary criticism. Yahya Kemal was deeply implicated in the formatting and content of the publication, which featured many of the best-known authors and intellectuals of the National Struggle period.

See also: Çepni, Nurgül, “Dergah Mecmuası”, EskiEserler. Last updated: 22 February 2010. <Last accessed: 7 April 2020>

Diken: Her hafta çarşamba günleri çıkar mesleğinde müstakil, edebî, siyasî, mizah gazetesidir

دیکن: هر هفته‌ چرشنبه‌لری چیقار، مسلکنده‌ مستقل، ادبی، سیاسی مزاح غزته‌سی در

Owned by Sedat Simavi and printed in Istanbul at the Matbaa-yı Orhaniye.

Originally biweekly, switching to weekly; 30 Teşrin-i Evvel 1335 [30 October 1918] – 19 Eylül 1337 [19 September 1920].

A satirical magazine that included a literary component, Diken featured a number of well-known authors, including Fazıl Ahmet (Aykaç), Selahattin Enis (Atabeyoğlu), Rıza Tevfik (Bölükbaşı), Aka Gündüz, Yusuf Ziya (Ortaç), İbnürrefik Ahmet Nuri (Sekizinci), Ahmet Rasim, and Ömer Seyfeddin.

Edebi mecmua: Edebi, ictimai, felsefi haftalık mecmua

ادبى مجموعه: ادبى، اجتماعى، فلسفى هفته‌لق مجموعه

Edited by Faruk Nafiz Çamlıbel and printed in Istanbul at Kadar Matbaası.

Weekly; 16 Kanun-ı Sani 1919 [16 January 1919] – 23 Kanun-ı Sani 1919 [23 January 1919].

This short-run literary weekly (only two issues were ever produced) provided a platform for contemporary production, particularly poetry. It also carried, on occasion, translations of European literature, including pieces by Maupassant.

Gençler dünyası: Siyasi, İctimai, İnkilabi, Fenni, Edebi Gençler Mecmuasıdır; Türkiye Komunist Gençler Birliği Byurosunun Naşr-i Efkâridir

کنجلر دنیاسی: سیاسی، یجتماعی، انقلافی، فنی، ادبی کنجلر مجموعه‌سیدر؛ تورکیه‌ قومونیست کنجلر برلگی تشکیلات بيوروسنڭ ناشر افرکاریدر

Issued by Türkiye Komunist Gençler Birliği in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Monthly; Teşrin-i Sanî 1920.

The press organ of the Turkish Communist Party in exile, Gençler Dünyası circulated information regarding revolutionary culture, including literature. It featured articles by many of the best-known partisans of Turkish socialism, such as Mustafa Suphi and Ethem Nijat.

Güneş: Sanat ve Edebiyat Mecmuası

كونش: صنعت و ادبيات مجموعه‌سی

Edited by Orhon Seyfi (Orhon) and printed in Istanbul by Ebüzziya Matbaası.

Semi-monthly; 1 Kanun-ı Sanî 1927 [1 January 1927] – 1 Tişrin-i Evvel 1927 [1 November 1927].

Among the last Ottoman literary magazines to be published in the Arabic script, Güneş was edited by the famed satirist and writer Orhon Seyfi (Orhon). The magazine was notable for its inclusion of large colour illustrations by Münif Fehim (Özarman) and Râhib Tâhir. It was steadfast in sticking to its literary focus, and included copious works by the members of the Milli Edebiyat movement.

Halk bilgisi mecmuası: Halk Bilgisi Derneği Umumi Merkezi tarafından neşr olunur

خلق بیلگیسی مجموعه‌سی: خلق بیلگیسی درنکی عمومی مرکزی طرفندن نشر اولونور

Edited by Ziyaeddin Fahri (Fındıkoğlu) and published by Halk Bilgisi Derneği Umumı̂ Merkezı̂ in Ankara.

Unknown frequency; 1928.

This journal of ethology, which was replaced in 1929 by the Latin-script Halk Bilgisi Haberleri, carried considerable examples and scholarship on Turkic and Anatolian folk and oral literature.

Hayat: Haftalık ilim, felsefe ve san’at mecmuası

حیات: هفتەلق علم، فلسفە و صنعت مجموعەسی

Edited by Faruk Nafız (Çamlıbel) and Mehmed Emin (Erişirgil) and printed in Ankara.

Weekly; 2 Kanun-ı Evvel 1926 [2 December 1926] – 30 Kanun-ı Evvel 1929 [30 December 1929].

A literary magazine with a heavy focus on poetry, Hayat featured some of the great names of late 1920s Ottoman Turkish literature. In line with Çamlıbel’s own views, the magazine promoted a nationalist and nativist view of literature and art, espousing stridently pro-government positions on most cultural issues.

Kelebek: Perşembe Günleri Neşrolunur Edebî, Mizah Mecmuası

کلبک: پرشمبە کونلری نشر اولنور ادبی، مزاح مجموعەسی

Edited by İbnürrefik Ahmet Nuri, Reşat Nuri, Yesarizade Mahmut Esat, and Ahmet Münif Bekâr and printed in Istanbul at Matbaa-yi Amire.

Weekly; 12 Nisan 1339 [12 April 1923] – 3 Nisan 1340 [3 April 1924].

Kelebek, published over the end of the Empire and establishment of the Republic, provided a platform for the dissemination of literary works by some of the period’s best-known authors. The periodical is perhaps most notable for carrying short stories by Reşat Nuri.

Küçük Mecmua: haftada bir çıkar ilmî, edebî, siyasî, iktisadî mecmuadır

کوچوک مجموعە: هفتەدە بر چقار علمی، ادبی، سیاسی، اقتصادى مجموعەدر

Published by Ziya Gökalp and printed in Diyarbakır (Amed) at the Vilayet Matbaası.

Weekly; 5 Haziran 1338 [5 June 1922] – 5 Mart 1339 [5 March 1923].

An influential publication edited by the well-known Turkist intellectual Ziya Gökalp, Küçük Mecmua is the continuation of Gökalp’s first post-exile periodical, Mefkûre. While largely a reflection of its editor’s ideas and philosophy on a wide range of topics (including literature), it also carried pieces by Ali Nüzhet (Göksel) and Binbaşı Halis Bey.

Mahfil: dinî, edebî, ictimâî ve şimdilik şehrî mecmua-i İslamiyedir

محفیل: دینی، ادبی، اجتماعی و شمدیلق شهری مجموعە اسلامیەدر

Edited by Tâhirülmevlevî (Tâhir Olgun), as well as Ferid Bey and Karahisarlı Ahmed Bey and published in Istanbul by İttihat-i Ticaret Kütüphanesi.

Monthly?; Zilkade 1338 [July 1920] – Ramazan 1344 [March 1926].

A literary magazine with an Islamic bent, Mahfil featured extracts of contemporary literature as well as criticism, including the texts of university lectures. In addition to early-Republican literature, the writers also looked to trends in historical and contemporary Arabic, Persian and European literary canons.

Meşale: onbeş günde bir çıkar sanat ve edebiyat mecmuası

مشعله: اون بش كونده بر چقار صنت و ادبيت مجموعەسی

Edited by Yusuf Ziya and printed in Istanbul at İktisat Matbaası.

Biweekly; 1 Temmuz 1928 [1 July 1928] – 15 Teşrin-i Evvel 1928 [15 October 1928].

A short-run literary magazine, Meşale featured the work of the Servet-i Fünun generation of authors and intellectuals.

Mihrab: ahlakî, ictimaî, felsefî, tarihî, edebî mecmuadır; şimdilik onbeş günde bir neşrolunur

محراب: احلقى، اجتماعى، فلسفى، تاريخى، ادبى مجموعەدر؛ شمدیلق اونبش کوندە بر نشراولنور

Edited by Agâh Mazlum and printed in Istanbul at the Evkaf İslamiye Matbaası.

Biweekly; 15 Teşrin-i Sanî 1339 [15 November 1923] – 1 Nisan 1341 [1 April 1925].

A philosophical and literary magazine with an Islamic bent, Mihrab featured the work of a number of prominent poets, including Necip Fazıl (Kısakürek), Hasan Ali (Yücel) and Ahmet Kutsi (Tecer). Such contemporary contributions were placed alongside research pieces on the thought and ethics of historic and contemporary Islamic intellectuals and communities.

Milli Mecmua: Her ayın birinci ve on beşinci günleri çıkar; İlmî, Edebî, İktisadî, Harsî Mecmuadır

ملى مجموعه: هر آيك برنجى و اون بشنجى كونلري چيقار؛ علمى، ادبى، اقتصادي، حرثى مجموعەدر

Edited by Mehmed Mesih and printed in Istanbul at Vakit Matbaası and at Maarif Matbaası.

Semi-monthly; 1 Teşrin-i Sanî 1339 [1 November 1923] – 15 Teşrin-i Sanî 1928 [15 November 1928].

Home to articles on a wide variety of topics by a myriad of well-known contemporary authors, Milli Mecmua provided critical observation of Turkish art, culture and politics at the start of the Republic. Among its contributors were Mehmet Emin (Erişirgil), Cemil Sena (Ongun), Naci Fikret (Baştak), and Mustafa Şekip (Tunç).

Necme: siyasî, edebî, ictimaî, haftada üç defa neşrolunur ceride-i resmiyedir

نجمه: سياسى، ادبى، اجتماعى، هفتەدا اوچ دفعە نشر اولنور جریدە رسمیەدر

Printed in Kirkuk, possibly by the British Occupation Forces.

Every three days; [December 1918?] – [23 June 1923?]

A newspaper devoted to general topics, Necme was one of the few periodicals servicing the cultural, social and political needs of the Turkmen of northern Iraq following British occupation. It carried literary news from both home and abroad.

Nedim: haftalık edebî mecmua

نديم: هفتەلق ادبی مجموعە

Also known as: Şair Nedim.

Edited by Baki Mazhar, Halit Fahri (Ozansoy), Adnan Ali and Ali Mükerrem and printed in Istanbul at Hukuk Matbaası and Mahmud Bey Matbaası.

Weekly; 16 Kanun-ı Sanî 1335 [16 January 1919] – 5 Haziran 1335 [5 June 1919].

True to its name (which refers back to one of the most popular poets during the British occupation of Istanbul), this weekly featured heavily contemporary prose and poetry. It carried original works and articles by Faruk Nafiz (Çamlıbel), Necmettin Halil (Onan), Necmi Sahir, Şüküfe Nihal (Başar), Fazıl Ahmet (Aykaç), and Güzide Osman, among others.

Osmanlı tarih ve edebiyat mecmuası: mülk ve millet’e nafi’ tarih, edebiyat, fünun, iktisadiyat ve şuun-i saire’ye müteallık mebahis-i müfide’yi hâvi mecmua-i şehrîdir

عثمانلی تاریح و ادبیت مجموعەسی: ملک و ملتە نافع تاریح، ادبیت، فنون، اقتصاديه ع شؤون سائرەیە متعلق مباحث مفیدەیی حاوی مجموعە شهریدر

Also known as: Tarih ve edebiyat: mülk-i millet’e nafi, tarih, edebiyat, fünun, iktisadiyat e şuun-i saire’ye müteallık mebahis-i müfide’yi hâvi mecmua-i şehriyedir

Edited by Ali Emiri and printed in Istanbul by Evkaf-i İslâmiye Matbaası.

Monthly; 31 Mart 1334 [31 March 1918] – 30 Eylül 1336 [30 September 1920]; 31 Ağustos 1338 [31 August 1922] – 31 Kanun-ı Evvel 1338 [31 December 1922].

Dedicated to a historical approach to Ottoman literature and society, this monthly provided a space for the elaboration and dissemination of literary criticism at the end of the Empire. It also aimed to foster the development of poetry in the emerging Turkish nation-state.

Şair: Haftalık edebî mecmua

شاعر: هفتەلق ادبی مجموعە

Edited by Yusuf Ziya (Ortaç), managed by Sedat Salim (Pek), and printed in Istanbul at Ahmediye Matbaası, Helâl Matbaası, and Mahmut Bey Matbaası.

Weekly; 12 Kanun-ı Evvel 1918 [12 December 1918] – 20 Mart 1919 [20 March 1919].

A periodical surveying Turkish cultural and social life at the end of the Ottoman period, this weekly focused heavily on poetry. It carried original works as well as criticism by Yahya Kemal (Beyatlı), Faruk Nafiz (Çamlıbel), Orhan Seyfi (Orhon), Mehmet Emin (Yurdakul), Halit Fahri (Ozansoy), Rıza Tevfik (Bölükbaşı) and many other notable creatives of the era.

Süs: haftalık edebı̂ hanım mecmuası

سوس: هفتەلق ادبی خانم مجموعەسی

Edited by Mehmet Rauf and published in Istanbul by Sevda Kütüphanesi.

Weekly; 16 Haziran 1339 [16 June 1923] – 26 Temmuz 1340 [26 July 1924].

A literary journal aimed at women, Süs was edited by Mehmet Rauf, erstwhile publisher of the women’s monthly Mehâsin. Although paternalistic in its tone, it did seek to acquaint female readers with the works of Halide Nusret (Zorlutuna), Şükûfe Nihal (Başar), Celâl Sahir (Erozan), and Florinalı Nazım.

See also: Ünalan, Yasemin, “Mehmet Rauf’un Kadın Dergileri: Mehasin ve Süs (İnceleme ve Metinler),” (unpublished masters thesis, Erciyes Üniversitesi, 2015?).

Tiyatro ve Musiki: Perşembe günleri neşr olunur musikiden, temaşadan, sinemadan bahıs haftalık mecmua

تیاترو و موسیقی: پرشمبه کونلری نشر اولونور موسیقیدن, تماشادن, سینه ماذن باحث هافتالق مجموعه

Edited by Mazhar Fevzi and Mehmet Gayyur and printed in Istanbul at Amedi Matbaası.

*Tiyatro ve Musiki* Cover Issue 4 (1928)

Weekly; 19 Ocak 1928 – [19 January 1928] – 5 Nisan 1928 [5 April 1928].

A weekly devoted to Istanbul’s entertainment scene, this periodical carried original song lyrics, short literary works, and considerable amounts of criticism. It also featured pieces on theatres, cinemas and cabarets operating in the city, and well-known Turkish and foreign stars.

Türkiye Edebiyat Mecmuası: ayda bir neşrolunur, ilim ve edebiyata hâdim musavver mecmua

تركيا ادبيت مجموعەسی: آيدا بر نشر اولنور، علم و ادبيته خادم مصور مجموعه

Edited by Hüsameddin Sacit and Orhan Midhat and printed in Istanbul at Matbaa-yı Osmaniye.

Monthly; 1 Eylül 1339 [1 September 1923] – 22 Nisan 1341 [22 April 1925].

A scholarly journal on literary creation, cultural life, society, and science in Turkey, this illustrated monthly advocated a broad conceptualization of literature. It focused on prose and poetry composed within the confines of elite creative communities as well as folk literature and theatre. Notable contributors to the publication included Leyla Hanım, Emine Seniha, Hüseyin Nihal (Atsız), Halide Nusret (Zorlutuna), and Hüsamettin Sacit.

Yarın: haftalık ilmî, edebî, ictimaî resimli mecmua

يارين: هفتەلق علمی، ادبی، اجتماعی رسملی مجموعە

Edited by Suphi Nuri (İleri) and Tahsin Fazıl (Öner) and printed in Istanbul at İleri Matbaası.

Weekly; 13 Teşrin-i Evvel 1337 [13 October 1921] – 15 Teşrin-i Evvel 1338 [15 October 1922].

A literary magazine of the War of Independence period, this weekly sought to prepare the Turkish reading public (and especially Turkish women) for the new age of nation-states. Although it is not clear who all of the contributing authors were, Ahmet Rasim and İsmail Muştak (Mayakon) did author articles carried by the publication.

Yeni kalem: Perşembe günleri neşrolunur edebı̂, ictimaı̂ mizah mecmuası

یکی قلم: پرشنبە کونلری نشر اولنور ادبی، اجتماعی مزاح مجموعەسی

Edited by Orhan Seyfi (Orhon) and printed in Istanbul at Terakki Matbaası.

Weekly; 6 Teşrin-i Evvel 1927 [6 October 1927] – 5 Nisan 1928 [5 April 1928].

An illustrated weekly of literary, cultural and social affairs, this publication had a distinctive satirical bent, in spite of its ardent support for Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk). Some of its caricatures targeted ethnic minorities, specifically Armenians and Jews. Among its literary contributors figured Yakup Kadri (Karaosmanoğlu), Reşat Nuri (Güntekin), Orhan Seyfi (Orhon), Fazıl Mehmet (Aykaç) and Mehmet Âkif (Ersoy).

Michael Erdman is the Curator of Turkish and Turkic Collections at the British Library. He was awarded the title of PhD by SOAS University of London in 2018 for his dissertation on the comparative historiography of origin narratives in early Republican Turkey and the Soviet Union. His other works can be found on his Academia.edu profile and on his blog.

Şair: Haftalık edebî mecmua

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