| Ataturk |  | Author: Lord Kinross
Publisher: Morrow
Category: Book
Buy Used: $74.42
Used (6) from $74.42
Rating:  12 reviews
Sales Rank: 1304006
Format: Import
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 544
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
ISBN: 0297169173
EAN: 9780297169178
ASIN: 0297169173
Publication Date: 1964
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
A highly compassionate view of Atatuerk's life July 3, 2008
Robert M. Bram (Melbourne, Australia)
"Atatuerk" by Patrick Kinross was first published in 1964. I found this book to be a highly compassionate view of Atatuerk's life.
Patrick Kinross' narration is insightful and reads like a story; very different from a dry historical text presenting fact after fact. He draws a rich picture of the life of Mustafa Kemal Atatuerk in terms of the changing political, religious and social landscape of his country in the first quarter of the 20th century. Atatuerk literally created the nation of Turkey from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire as World War 1 re-drew the political lines of Europe.
He gives the reader a very personal understanding of the intense sense of purpose and duty that drove Atatuerk throughout his life, and also how it led to many contradictions in his life. Atatuerk created a secular nation by first engendering the support of eminent religious authority figures, without telling them his aim was a secular nation. Atatuerk wanted Turkey to become just like a "modern Western democratic republic", but became a benign autocrat, leading a one party system where all representatives were hand picked by Atatuerk.
Kinross begins with Atatuerk's birth in Salonika and traces his troubled early school years and enrolment into the Military Secondary School where Atatuerk discovered himself as a soldier and was given the first name "Kemal", meaning "perfection". From his portrayal of Atatuerk in his younger years, we are given to understand that Atatuerk developed very early a fierce sense of dedication to a country he recognized as flawed and in need of change. He demonstrates an astounding prescience, has a sharp mind, a passion for raki and debate, and an abiding abhorrence for what he saw as the role of religion in the decline of his country.
We follow Atatuerk through the despairing times of World War 1, where Atatuerk's actions and leadership are nothing short of heroic. The insights he develops into the military and political situation of the time picks him out as a potential threat to his superiors, but also identify him as an invaluable commander. For many years he works in the background to develop a network of resistance against the self serving Ottoman authority. Instead of bringing about a change of government, he finds himself pushed to the side as several revolutionaries take the fore, become despots in their own right and are then torn down - such as Enver Pasha. "Enver Pasha killed Enver Bey" is a telling quote I remember.
Eventually the situation for Atatuerk comes to a head when the allies of the First World War begin plans to dismantle Turkey and occupy the country. Atatuerk, using all his skill and cunning as a diplomatic, soldier and hero rallies a new line of defense that pushes the allies out of Turkey and forms a new government, the first Republic of Turkey.
I found some important subjects were left out or not given sufficient attention. There was only a passing reference to the swap of Greek and Turkish population in 1923. And although the Kurds' role in the independence war was described in some detail and the conflicts between Armenians, Kurds, Greeks and Turks over land was much discussed, there was no evaluation of Atatuerk's attitude towards each group as a people or how this affected his actions.
At times, Kinross seemed too compassionate towards Atatuerk, almost apologetic. The book made much of the contradictions within Atatuerk, but rarely explored the darker side of his character. Instead, his actions were repeatedly explained or justified by his admirable sense of duty to his country. Nowhere was this clearer than in the portrayal of Atatuerk's involvement in the Independence Tribunals of 1927. These tribunals were brought in to punish the leaders of a Kurdish revolt, but were also used to summarily round up all of Atatuerk's political enemies at the time - including former friends and compatriots without whom the Republic of Turkey may never have come about.
I understand now, why there is still a deep reverence throughout Turkey for this politician and leader, Atatuerk, who people still call the Father of Turkey. For he was truly the father of Turkey: he led a movement that completely and permanently changed the political and social face of the nation. Turkey changed from a caliphate to a republic, and that was just the beginning. After that, Atatuerk gave the people a new language (yes, "gave" - he helped create it and personally taught it); laws were introduced changing the national costume; and women were made equal to men - all this in less than fifteen years!
I also understand that a major part of Atatuerk's legacy is the shock of such massive changes introduced in such an extremely short time - a shock that still resonates today. At least one of the multiple coup d'etat in the latter half of the 20th century (after Atatuerk's death) were instituted by people who felt empowered to act by a sense of duty and revolution that Atatuerk himself encouraged. The fact that religion lost its primacy under Atatuerk also left his country with a deep and lingering conflict between religious and secular life that is at the forefront of Turkey's political situation today. Much like present day Indonesia, religious parties have gained prominence and seek to re-assert religion as part of government.
I began reading this book on the plane trip home from my first holiday in Turkey to visit my partner's family. It took me six months to finish the book and has given me a much deeper connection with this beautiful country and the people I met.
If you are a student of history, or if you have ever visited Turkey and wanted to know "how".. I highly recommend this book.
Review from my blog [...]
Every hero has a human side August 9, 2001
Utku Diril (Santa Clara, CA United States)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
I am Turkish. So I have read lots of things about Ataturk throughout my education. But it was all about the events like wars, revolutions, treaties but not the feelings about this great man. Now I understand some of his moves better. I think everybody can learn something from this book but especially people of Turkey should read it to learn what kind of events our nation lived on our way to freedom and what kind of differences a leader can make.
Amazing,Heroic,Legendary June 1, 2001
R. Esra Ustar (Florence Italy)
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
Unfortunately we know very little about the history of Modern Turkey and the Turkish people in general. I would even say all we know is unsubtantiated ...in general against Turks. This wonderful book of outstanding historian Lord Kinross is telling the real story behind the modern Turkey and the avant-guard philosophical foundations that created this modern republic out of ashes of a country which was torn off completely by wars followed one another. This book is clearly proving us that Ataturk is not only the most important political leader of our century but also may be some centuries back and some centuries forward yet to come. Any person from the developed Western societies who are serious about learning something about a nobel nation such as Turks and their genius humanitarian leader Ataturk, this is the book to read.
amazing April 25, 2000
jeremy Price (worcester)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
having searched for a book on this leader but finding it out of my price range i happened to find a copy for 10 in Turkey of this book. It is a brilliant read. A man forgotten in the west but so properly idolised in turkey. Now I understand what all the fuss is about. This character is no Mussolini, Stalin or other jumped up tin pots but a man of the most amazing integrity and insight. It is amusing the way Lloyd George spend his whole career trying to undermine him but in the end with the defeat of the grekks fell from power due to his integrity. A tear passed my eye reading about the death of this hero and I certainly felt that i understood a bit more the respect and emotions theTurks have towards him.
Outstanding book worthy of an epic motion picture March 28, 2000
William B. Whiddon (Los Angeles)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
At 9:05 AM on each November 10th, all the inhabitants of Turkey stop their worldly activities and observe a few minutes of silence. They are observing the death of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey, in 1938. Ataturk was a man larger than life. After the destruction of the Ottoman Empire during WWI he defeated western European powers bent on carving up the spoils for themselves, and formed the new Turkish Republic in 1923. Ataturk was directly responsible for the disaster inflicted on British and Australian forces at Gallipoli, dramatized in the 1981 Australian motion picture. He also fought unsuccessfully against T. E. Lawrence and his Arabs. After forming the new Turkey, he completely reformed its society, replacing the arabic alphabet with latin, abolishing both polygamy and the fez, and installing a secular government. Lord Kinross' masterful book captures the broad scope and the thrilling details of the life of this amazing man and demonstrates his influence on the 20th century. Ataturk is one of the best biographies ever written, about one of the most interesting men in history.
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