19th Century Azerbaijani Literature: The First Examples of Novels and Short Stories

19th Century Azerbaijani Literature

Abstract

The 19th century was a period when very important events took place in the history of Azerbaijan. Especially in northern Azerbaijan, which came under Russian rule after 1828, there were important changes not only politically but also culturally. During this period, the rapidly increasing number of Azerbaijani young people who were educated in Russian schools directed the development of Azerbaijani culture and literature. The emergence of the understanding of educationism, which spread among intellectuals in Azerbaijan, also coincides with this period. Educational intellectuals, who believed that society could only be corrected through education, undertook important works in this direction. The modernization process in Azerbaijani literature also began with educational intellectuals. The first examples of novels and stories were given by these intellectuals. Abbasgulu Agha Bakıhanov's Kitap Esgeriyye; Ismail Bey Gutgaşınlı's Reşid Bey and Saadet Hanım; Mirza Fetali Ahundov's Aldanmış Kevakib; Mirza Abdurrahim Talibov's Kitab Yüklü Eşşek; Celil Memmedguluzade's Danabaş Kendinin Ehvalatları; Neriman Nerimanov's Bahadır and Sona; Sultan Mecid Ganizade's Mektubat-ı Şeyda Bey Şirvani are the first examples of the novel and story genre in Azerbaijani literature. In this study, the characteristics of the period, the first studies and their general characteristics were emphasized.