Alaeddine Haïdar's book is a unique blend of history and creative speculation. It's framed as the journal of a fictional Arab correspondent who secures a rare audience with Mustafa Kemal (later Atatürk) in the early days of the Turkish Republic. The setting is Angora, a dusty town being transformed into the heart of a bold new national project.

The Story

The plot is the conversation. Our narrator travels into the heart of the Turkish national movement, a world forging a new identity by breaking from its Ottoman and Islamic past. Through his eyes, we see the energy and the tension of this rebirth. The core of the book is the extended dialogue between the journalist and Kemal. They talk about the future of Turkey, the meaning of secularism, and the painful process of cutting ties with a shared imperial history. It’s less about chronicling events and more about capturing a moment of ideological collision and curiosity.

Why You Should Read It

What makes this book special is its perspective. We're so used to reading about Atatürk from a Western or a strictly Turkish viewpoint. Haïdar gives us a different angle—that of an intellectual from the Arab world, watching a former imperial center redefine itself in ways that feel both impressive and alienating. You get the charisma and determination of Kemal, but you also feel the narrator's personal conflict: a mix of admiration for the achievement and a sense of loss for the broken connections. It makes the history feel immediate and deeply human, not just a list of reforms.

Final Verdict

This isn't a long, dense historical tome. It's a thoughtful, conversational piece that packs a lot of ideas into a small space. It's perfect for readers curious about Middle Eastern history who want something more personal than a textbook, or for anyone who enjoys historical fiction that focuses on ideas and dialogue over action. If you've ever wondered about the human stories behind the sweeping changes of the 20th century, this little book opens a fascinating window.