Turkish writing ranges in numerous landmasses and locales for around twelve centuries. As per Chinese sources, Turkish writing started in the second century BC, yet we don't have any composed examples made due from that period. The earliest known works in a Turkic language are the Orhun (Orkhon) Inscriptions written in cuneiforms on two enormous landmarks, dating back to the eighth century AD, found in 1889 in Northern Mongolia, where the Turks initially originated.
They were made to respect the two Turkish sibling rulers; Kul Tigin (sovereign) and Bilge Khagan (head), and are loaded with data about the Turks' way of life, public activity and workmanship. Other early Turkish works are the eleventh-century Turkish-Arabic word reference of "Divanu Lugati Turk" composed by Mahmud Kashgari and an Islamic standards book "Kutadgu Bilig" composed by Yusuf Has Hacib; sixteenth-century compositions of a previous gallant epic of the "Kitab-I Dede Korkut"; and thirteenth-century mysterious Sufi verse. These different types of writing advanced into Ottoman writing beginning in the thirteenth century. A journey to Turkey offers travelers a chance to experience this literary and cultural legacy firsthand.
The Turkish literature is further divided into further 3 eras which are following:
Turkish composing was combined after effects for Turkish families and was generally spoken. Most prepared identified occasions of Turkish works are scheduled columns dated as of the seventh behind in addition to mid-eighth many years. Turkish adventures date back to the beginning those events, fusing Manas, Uygur, Saka, Oguz-Kagan, Göktürk, and Yaratilis. The " Dede Korkut," a book set down moving in the fourteenth century, is an incredibly significant work that jams reminiscence so as to classic time inside great verbal communication.
To a limited degree, the Turkish society writing, which has made due till our day, mirrors the impact of Islam and the novel way of living, the type of the conventional writing of Central Asia after Islam appropriation. Turkish people writing included mysterious works of troubadour ballads and Tekke (otherworldly strict retreats) writing. Yunus Emre, who existed during the second 50% of the thirteenth and mid-fourteenth hundreds of years, was an age making artist and Sufi master in each of the three regions of society, writing just as divan verse. Significant figures of beautiful writing were Karacaoglan, Kayserili Seyrani, Erzurumlu Emrah, and Atik Ömer.
Ottoman literature developed as a rich and diverse body of work influenced by Persian, Arabic, and Turkish literary traditions. Between the 13th and early 20th centuries, it was characterized by a highly sophisticated poetic tradition known as Divan literature, which employed intricate forms, rich imagery, and elaborate metaphors. Writers such as Fuzuli, Baki, and Nedim became popular with their lyric and philosophical poetry, often describing nature, mysticism, and love. Ottoman prose, while less important than poetry, had historical accounts, religious texts, and travelogues.
Turkish literature underwent a profound transformation as it engaged with Western literary movements, mirroring the country's shifting social, economic, and political landscapes. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, writers shifted their focus from the ornate Divan style, rooted in Ottoman court poetry, toward content-driven narratives that addressed societal change, modernization, and national identity. This period saw the rise of influential literary movements: Tanzimat (Reforms, 1839–1876) introduced themes of democracy and individualism; Servet-i Fünun (Scientific Wealth, 1896–1901) embraced Symbolist and Naturalist techniques; Fecr-i Ati (Dawn of the New Age, 1909–1912) sought artistic renewal; and Ulusal Edebiyat (National Literature, post-1911) rejected imitation in favor of Turkic folk traditions and plain language.
Authors like Namık Kemal (Vatan Yahut Silistre) and Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil (Aşk-ı Memnu) pioneered these movements, using literature as a tool for social critique and cultural revival. The National Literature movement, in particular, laid the groundwork for modern Turkish prose and poetry, with figures like Ziya Gökalp and Ömer Seyfettin advocating for linguistic purity and Anatolian themes. Today, this rich literary heritage—from the philosophical depth of Tanzimat to the nationalist fervor of Ulusal Edebiyat—reflects Turkey’s journey from empire to republic, blending Western thought with a distinct Turkish voice that continues to resonate in contemporary works.
In 2006 the creator Orhan Pamuk became the first Turk in any field to be granted the Nobel Prize. This occasion reaffirmed Turkey's situation on the world scholarly guide and underscored the significance of Turkish writing with regards to contemporary similar and world writing studies. By putting present-day Turkish writing in the universal spotlight, the Nobel Prize produced another worldwide audience for Pamuk and other Turkish writers. While this ongoing praise brought about a resurgence of scholastic and open enthusiasm for the field, Turkish writing has a long heritage in world writing that scopes back to the establishment of the country in 1923 and ranges from different kinds and scholarly styles.
Customarily, writing accessible in interpretation accomplishes higher flow in world writing thinks about on the grounds because it is available to numerous researchers in various nations, and the most recent works of Turkish writing are no exception. As English immediately became one of the essential languages of the world, works written in English also gained prominence. While the present Turkish artistic standard in English is principally confined to choosing key creators, it incorporates a variety of works made throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and continues to grow as an ever-increasing number of writings are interpreted.
One of the principal creators to stand out outside of Turkey was Halide Edib Adıvar (1882-1964). Adıvar, who was an unmistakable pioneer for ladies' rights, educator, and government official, went through quite a long while following the War for Independence in the United Kingdom and France and wrote and distributed a considerable amount of her works in English. Adıvar's works, which incorporate The Shirt of Flame (1924), The Turkish Ordeal (1928), and The Clown and His Daughter (1935), transition from journal to mental fiction, and her solid female characters bear hints of her own life and encounters. Through her amalgamation of styles, topics, and classifications, Adıvar catches the dynamic quality of Turkey's initial Republican writing and history for a universal crowd.
Yunus Emre, a 13th-century Sufi poet, is often considered the father of Turkish literature. His simple yet profound poetry made Turkish a literary language and deeply influenced later poets.
One of the most famous works is "Leyla and Majnun" by Fuzuli, a tragic love story. Ottoman Divan poetry, with poets like Bâkî and Nedîm, also played a major role in shaping Turkish literature.
Turkish literature evolved from oral traditions to Divan poetry in the Ottoman era, later adopting Western influences. After 1923, modern literature focused on nationalism, social issues, and identity.
It blends Turkic, Persian, Arabic, and Western influences. Ottoman literature was rich in Persian-Arabic traditions, while modern works combine folk tales, mysticism, and contemporary themes.