City Letters (Şehir Mektupları) is a work authored by the Turkish writer Mustafa Kutlu, consisting of essays on the relationships between people, the city, and space. Published by Dergâh Yayınları as part of its "Turkish Literature" series, the book was first released in August 1995. It was printed as 268 pages and reached its 18th edition as of November 2022.

Content and Structure

The book contains essays written by Mustafa Kutlu as a result of his observations in Istanbul over a period of nearly ten years. These writings are an expanded continuation of texts the author had previously published in newspapers under the title "Bir Demet İstanbul" (A Bouquet of Istanbul). In the work's introduction, the texts are described by the author as "an effort by a provincial to get to know the big city" and are composed from a perspective that addresses the social, cultural, and spiritual aspects of urban life.

In the work, cities are evaluated not merely as physical structures but as socio-cultural areas possessing a past, an identity, and a memory. In his analyses centered on Istanbul, Kutlu discusses the historical and social meanings of urban spaces and focuses on themes such as urban transformation processes, the change in traditional lifestyles, the loss of neighborhood culture, and individual loneliness. Throughout the essays, the interaction between humans and the city, the sense of belonging, and the effects of modernization on the city are explored.

The work also includes subjects such as the spiritual relationship established with the city, the individual's search for identity, and processes of social change. These texts, based on the author's observations, constitute an analysis aimed at revealing the effects of urban life on the individual.

Language and Style

In keeping with the essay genre, the book is written in a plain and clear language. The author's narrative is based on observation; subjective feelings are not included, and descriptions and findings are presented from an observer's point of view. A literary essay style, rather than an academic one, is preferred in the work. The text follows an explanatory and analytical structure that directs the reader to reflect on the city and their surroundings.