Comparative Literature (Book)

Comparative Literature is a collection of articles by Turkish literary scholar Professor Dr. İnci Enginün, examining the application of comparative literature theory within Turkish literature. Published as part of Dergâh Publications’ “Turkish Literature – Studies” series, the work was first published in October 1992, comprising 374 pages, and reached its fourth edition as of September 2017.

The articles in the volume explore the opportunities offered by comparative literature methods for understanding Turkish literature after the Tanzimat period. The compilation brings together Enginün’s 1968 doctoral thesis titled Shakespeare Translations and Influences during the Tanzimat Era along with articles she wrote in different periods. Four new articles have been added to the latest edition.

The book addresses topics such as the translation of literary works into other languages, literary influences through translation, foreign imagery in literature, and thematic comparisons. In this context, examples of interaction between Western and Turkish literatures are analyzed, and comparative readings are conducted across various texts.

The book argues that comparative literature requires an interdisciplinary approach and that research in this field benefits from collaboration across different academic disciplines. It also includes assessments on the development and current state of comparative literature studies in Türkiye.

The language of the book is scientific and expository. Theoretical discussions are presented with an academic approach, with greater emphasis placed on document- and text-based analyses rather than subjective interpretation. The work serves as a reference source particularly for scholars working in literary studies and comparative literature.