Yunus Emre InstituteOn 12 June 2024, Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London was abuzz with the echoes of history as Dr Emre Aracı, a distinguished composer, conductor and music historian, who took attendees on a mesmerising journey through London’s Turkish heritage during the ‘A Turkish Wanderer in London’ Book Signing and Talk event.
The evening began with an engaging conversation with Dr Aracı, who shared his deep-rooted insights into the connections between Türkiye and the British capital. His passion for the subject was evident as he recounted tales from his latest book, “Londra’da Türk İzleri” [Turkish Traces in London], which paints a vivid picture of the city’s vibrant history and the significant Turkish influences that have shaped it. Dr Aracı’s personal odyssey invited the audience to join him on an expedition through London’s bustling streets, tracing back three and a half centuries of history. The event was more than a scholarly recount; it was a labyrinthine exploration of epistolary and poetic memory, from the echoes of the ‘janissary band’ outside St James’s Palace to the historic Turkish coffee houses and baths.
In his compelling narrative, Dr Aracı illuminated the audience with a tapestry of stories that spanned the breadth of Turkish influence in London and British history. Dr Aracı spoke of the city’s long-vanished historic Turkish coffee houses, once the hub of intellectual and social activity, where luminaries like Lady Mary Wortley Montagu and Virginia Woolf might have found inspiration amidst the aromatic scents and lively debates. Dr Aracı also recounted the opulent Turkish baths, which stood as a testament to the city’s embrace of Ottoman luxuries and the cross-cultural exchanges that have enriched London’s diverse history.
Moreover, Dr Aracı also highlighted the cultural exchanges between Britain and Türkiye, exemplified by the honors bestowed upon Admiral Horatio Nelson by the Ottoman Empire, which underscores the longstanding relationship between the two nations. He revealed the story of Nelson being awarded the Order of the Turkish Crescent ayund the diamond chelengk from Sultan Selim III’s own turban, a symbol of gratitude for Nelson’s role in restoring Ottoman rule to Egypt. Dr Emre Aracı’s presentation touched upon Virginia Woolf’s literary connections to Turkish culture in London. He highlighted frequent references to İstanbul in her works, which serve as historical markers of the city’s rich Ottoman influences.
The highlight of the evening was the book signing session, where attendees had the opportunity to secure a copy of Dr Aracı’s masterpiece with a personal signature from the author himself. The event took its place in history as a moment that added new stories to the Turkish Traces in London, narrated by Dr. Aracı, a historian who has dedicated his life to uncovering and sharing these tales.