ABSTRACT
ThereisnoshortageofnationalisminTurkishwritingsoftheFirstWorld Warandthe1920s,butromanticnationalismishardertofind.Turkish nationalfeelingaroseonlywhenthesunwassettingontheOttoman Empire,andmostintelligentwritersweretoopreoccupiedwiththe strugglefornationalsurvivaltotakeanybutthemostrealisticviewof nationalism.Themosthighlyesteemedmemberofthegroupknownas MilliEdebiyatr;llar,theexponentsofnationalliterature,wasOrner Seyfettin(1884-1920).Heformulatedhisideasonnationalisminashort storycalledilkDii§enAk,'TheFirstGreyHair':
1Peoplewhosharealanguageandareligionareofonenation(millet). TheTurkstooareanation,butbecausetheyhavehithertolivedwithin theframeworkofareligiouscommunity(ii.mmet,umma)theyhave neglectedtheirownnationhoodandcultureandtriedtobelikethe ArabsandPersians.
