About What I Have Lived (Book)

About My Life is a work containing letters and a diary by Turkish literary scholar and critic Professor Dr. Mehmet Kaplan (1915–1986). Published by Dergâh Yayınları as part of the “Turkish Literature” series, it was prepared for publication by Zeynep Kerman and İnci Enginün. The first edition was printed in August 1992, comprising 287 pages, and reached a second printing as of February 2023.

Content

The work includes sixty-seven letters written by Mehmet Kaplan to his classmate Âli Ölmezoğlu between 1939 and 1953, along with a diary ("About My Life") kept during August and September 1953.

The letters reveal the early stages of Kaplan’s academic life, his reading habits, and his views on literature. These correspondences also provide information about the literary and academic environment of the period. The diary section contains the author’s personal reflections and observations on his life.

The documents in the book reflect Kaplan’s personal and intellectual development within a chronological unity. The letters and diary entries illustrate his interests in literature, philosophy, religion, and history. Additionally, the work offers indirect insights into the cultural and academic environment of mid-20th century Türkiye.

Language and Style

The writings in the book feature a natural and personal tone. The letters and diary sections reflect the linguistic characteristics of their time. The language used in the work is marked by non-academic simplicity and everyday expression.