Gallipoli: The Turkish Story

by Kevin Fewster, Vecihi Basarin, Hatice Hurmuz Basarin

Offering interviews with Turkish survivors of the Gallipoli campaign, insights from their descendants, and more than 50 photographs from the Turkish side of the trenches, this is the story of the infamous World War I battle from the Turkish perspective. This portrayal of the Battle of Canakkale, as the Turks call it, paints a richer portrait of the past and broadens the knowledge and understanding of this tragic event. This battle has become a common bond between Turkey and the Australians and New Zealanders against whom they fought, and this book presents a point of view which is of growing interest.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War I, Australia, War

184 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2003

Reviews

[Muberra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors don't sugar coat things and call the British/Australian soldiers for what they were- invaders. The Turks that fought them receive little recognition in Australia, so it's important to hear this side of the story.

[James (JD) Dittes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book delivers only only a portion of what it promises. Despite having two Turkish co-authors, Fewster is able to deliver only a few of the Turkish stories & perspectives I was expecting when I picked up the book.

Fewster begins the book, hoping to right the wrongs of previous English texts, which extolled allied bravery and minimized the superior efforts of their Turkish opponents. Still, I found this book to look at allied planning and efforts. One could say that instead of 10-90 proportions of Turkish to English perspectives, you find her a 30-70 split.

This may be because of a lack of Turkish sources on the battle. I don't know. I found it disappointing, because I know there are a bevy of books in Turkish about the battle (which, unfortunately, I cannot yet read).

[Angell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting perspective on the history of both Australian involvement in Gallipoli as well as the unique relationship that has developed between Australians and the Turkish and Anatolian people since then.
Useful text for such a significant cultural event.

[Dean Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an Australian brought up on the ANZAC legend, this was a necessary read that brings some balance to what happened on the Gallipoli peninsula.

[Glen Tyquin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written book. Non bias well captured events.

[Paul W · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Seldom have so many countries of the world, races and nations sent their representatives to so small a place with the praiseworthy intention of killing one another". The place, Gallipoli, now plays a central part in Australian and Turkish history. And while much has been written of the Allies campaign, Fewster and the Basarin’s text brings the Ottoman perspective to this battlefront.
While the sections focussed on the Ottoman experience are informative, for such a brief book on a specific topic, too much of the text - over a third - is spent discussing peripheral matters such as ‘the special bond’ that has formed between Turkey and Australia, the 2500 year history of the Turkic people, and the post war history of the Turkish-Australian relationship.
Uyar’s Ottoman Defence Against the Anzac Landing, is a more informative and rewarding account of the Ottoman history of the Gallipoli campaign.

[Serap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!!