The Modernization Process of Egypt and Turkey in Selected Novels of Naguip Mahfouz and Orhan Pamuk

Book excerpt: This study discusses the modernization process of Egypt and Turkey from the beginning of the 20th century through The Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz and Cevdet Bey and Sons by Orhan Pamuk. These works of two Nobel Prize winning authors project the stories of three generations, reflecting the historical, social and cultural transformations Egypt and Turkey went through. In their generational novels, both, Mahfouz and Pamuk portray extended families that have close relationships which fade through time as each new generation moves away from the traditional lifestyles and tries to adopt a new way of life under the influences of the social and economic conditions of their countries. This book analyses the way each succeeding generation operates in the process of transition from conservatism to modernity in Egypt and Turkey by contextualizing book texts and shedding light on the modernization experiences of these two countries.