Past Time Pavilions (Book)

Abdülhak Şinasi Hisar’s work *Geçmiş Zaman Köşkleri* was published in 1956. In this book, the author recounts his life in places such as Boğaziçi, Büyükada, and Çamlıca, where he spent his childhood and early youth. The work describes Istanbul’s spaces and ways of life that once existed but changed over time.

*Geçmiş Zaman Köşkleri* presents a narrative grounded in the author’s personal memories while also offering observations on Istanbul’s cultural and social fabric. The book contains representations of the lifestyle of a specific era, both within Abdülhak Şinasi Hisar’s literary output and within the broader context of Turkish literature.

In the work, various events and people encountered by Abdülhak Şinasi Hisar during his childhood are conveyed through a literary narrative. The author reflects on his observations of this period through characters representing diverse social and cultural elements.

The text provides detailed descriptions of the people Hisar knew and the environment he experienced during his childhood. For instance, information about his grandfather’s mansion on Büyükada and the surroundings where he lived in Çamlıca due to his mother’s illness are presented through figures that embody the social structure and cultural diversity of the time. The author incorporates both the material and spiritual dimensions of Istanbul into the text.

Hisar employs a plain and simple narrative style in the work. Istanbul, particularly the Boğaziçi region, is described in detail with its natural and historical features. While recounting his observations of the past, the author also draws attention to the continuity of time and change.

As the transformation of places and time is narrated, individuals who fail to adapt to these changes become part of the narrative. In addition to observational elements, the text includes descriptions of situations the author did not directly witness. In this regard, the work offers various insights into the life and cultural environment of historical Istanbul.