Occasions for Poetry: Politics, Literature, And Imagination Among the Early Modern Ottomans: Oscar Aguirre-Mandujano, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2025. 228 pp.: ISBN 9781512827316

Abstract

Occasions for Poetry adlı eserinde Oscar Aguirre-Mandujano, on beşinci ve on altıncı yüzyıl Osmanlı şiirini yalnızca estetik bir süs unsuru olarak değil, toplumsal ve siyasal bağlamlarla ilişkili etkin bir pratik olarak ele alır. Şiirleri doğuran tarihsel ve toplumsal olaylara odaklanarak, bürokratların, ulemānın ve seçkin şairlerin nazmı imparatorluk kimliğini, otoritesini ve himāye ağlarını inşa etmek için nasıl kullandıklarını gösterir. Tācīzāde Caʿfer Çelebi’den Şeyhī’ye uzanan vaka analizleri aracılığıyla Aguirre-Mandujano, şiirin manevī, siyasī ve şahsī hayat arasında aracılık eden işlevini ortaya koyar. Bu yenilikçi yaklaşım, “occasionality” (vesīlelilik) kavramını merkeze alırken edebī üretimi Osmanlı siyasal tahayyülünün daha geniş bağlamına yerleştirir.

Keywords

• Şiir
• siyaset
• Osmanlı İmparatorluğu
• hayal gücü
• kimlik
• erken modern dönemi

Occasions for Poetry: Politics, Literature, and Imagination Among the Early Modern Ottomans: Oscar Aguirre-Mandujano, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2025. 228 pp.: ISBN 9781512827316

Abstract

In Occasions for Poetry, Oscar Aguirre-Mandujano examines fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Ottoman poetry as a socially and politically engaged practice, rather than as simply an ornament. By focusing on the events that inspired poems, Aguirre-Mandujano demonstrates how bureaucrats, scholars and noble poets used verse to shape imperial identity, authority and networks of support. Through detailed case studies from Tācīzāde Caʿfer Çelebi to Şeyhī, Aguirre-Mandujano demonstrates the role of poetry in mediating spiritual, political and personal life. This fresh approach highlights the concept of “occasionality” while connecting literary production to the broader Ottoman political imagination.

Keywords

• Poetry
• politics
• Ottoman Empire
• imagination
• identity
• early modern period

Supporting Institution

This book review was produced without any financial support.

Thanks

I would like to express my gratitude to Elif Sezer Aydınlı for her insightful comments while I was preparing this review paper. In this work, AI-assisted tools were used to a limited extent, exclusively to assist in rephrasing certain sentences, within the acceptable boundaries specified in the Nesir: Journal of Literary Studies Artificial Intelligence Usage Policy. All content was carefully reviewed and finalized by the author, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the work.

References

1. Aguirre-Mandujano, Oscar. 2025. Occasions for Poetry: Politics, Literature, and Imagination Among the Early Modern Ottomans. University of Pennsylvania Press.