D’ebüzziya Tevfik: Mémoires Ou Récit Historique? Yeni Osmanlılar Tarihi (Histoire Des Jeunes Ottomans)
The History of New Ottomans, Ebüzziya Tevfik: Memories and the History of Story

Summary/Abstract: The work of Ebüzziya Tevfik titled “New Ottomans” describing the period of 11 years includes the members, purposes and activities of New Ottomans Community founded in 1865 as well as the social, political, cultural and literal incidents of stated period, the individuals involved in these incidents and memoirs of the author during his exile. In the chapters describing the historical background of New Ottomans, Ebüzziya Tevfik stands as narrator instead of involving in the story, since he failed to witness the foundation phase of New Ottomans Association, nor the lives on exile within Europe. The author builds up his story through what he heard, learned and read – as the text has clues regarding these cases. However, the most interesting issue is the author’s effort to add him to the incidents while telling about “him/her” or “them”. This, in one sense, refers to the examination of following case: Where does history start or end, besides, where does my life start and end? Briefly, shall my life and my history be separated? If so, how can I be able to maintain this? In here, the close relations of author with history and historians reveal. Both the authors of memoirs and historians shape their subjects by the past. However, the methods they applied during forming their works and their concerns on establishing their works are different. It is possible to present these differences by following the text of Ebüzziya Tevfik. By this way, we tried to answer the following question in this essay: Did Ebüzziya Tevfik write the history of New Ottomans and/or his personal background in respect of his witnesses, impressions and observations?

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