Ahmet Ümit’s story comes to life in Bergama

İZMİR – Doğan News Agency

Turkish novelist Ahmet Ümit, the writer of best-selling books including “Istanbul Hatırası” (A Memento for Istanbul), “Bab-I Esrar” (The Dervish Gate), “Kavim” (The Tribe) and “Patasana,” this time will bring his story to life in İzmir’s Bergama district, which is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. 

Featuring the 20-year history of the Committee of Union and Progress, Ümit’s latest novel “Elveda Güzel Vatanım” (Farewell My Beautiful Motherland) tells the process of its establishment in 1889, its following transformation into a major political player in 1906 and its ending with the attempted assassination of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1926. The book was released in December last year. 

Ümit was in Bergama last week to promote his latest novel. During a signing at a bookstore, he said the new book shed light on the history of Bergama. 

Ümit visited the Bergama Museum and historic sites in the district, listening and recording true stories. 

“A distinctive feature in my novels is that they feature historical and cultural places within the borders of the Turkish Republic. They sometimes tell an ancient era or recent history. We concretely see the ancient culture in Bergama. There is 2,000-2,500 year-old continuous history. This is very exciting. The geography here is exciting, too. I have been thinking of writing about Bergama culture and promoting it ever since I first visited here,” Ümit said.