Pamuk began writing the novel in 2001 soon after he completed "Kar" ("Snow"). He took a break after a year to write his memoir, "İstanbul." After publishing "İstanbul" in 2003, the author continued work on "Museum of Innocence" for the following five years. Even before publication, the translation rights of the novel had been sold to be published in more than 30 languages. The first translated version of the novel will be published in Germany by Hanser Publications, titled "Museum der Unschuld." Focusing on the question "What, in fact, is love?" the author touches on every field of life, ranging from the details of everyday life such as newspapers and television to painting to loneliness, friendship and family. Beginning in 1975, the novel narrates the story of a rich İstanbul man named Kemal and his poor distant female cousin, Fisun.
Well-educated, 30 year-old Kemal is a member of the Basmacı famıly, owners of a large textile company; his love interest is beautiful, 18-year-old Fisun. Dedicating the novel to his daughter, Pamuk takes a deep, detailed and funny look at both the back streets of İstanbul and what magazines call "high society." The back of the book lists an index of 150 people, which readers will meet many times over the course of the book's 83 chapters. On the whole, "Masumiyet Müzesi" touches on many issues -- from love to furniture, from museums to sex and virginity.
At 592 pages, "Masumiyet Müzesi" is Pamuk's second longest novel after "Cevdet Bey ve Oğulları" (Cevdet Bey and His Sons). As in "Cevdet Bey ve Oğulları" and "Kara Kitap" (The Black Book), the Nişantaşı quarter of İstanbul -- where Pamuk was born and grew up, and one of the most expensive quarters of İstanbul where so-called "high society" dwells -- is the center of events in the novel. Apart from Nişantaşı, the novel also explores Çukurcuma, Taksim, Harbiye and Beyoğlu. Many scenes in the novel take place in a 1956 Chevrolet car.
The author himself appears in the novel, along with characters from his previous novels, including Celal Salik, the sons of Cevdet Bey and Pamuk's family. The novel also focuses on Yeşilçam -- or "Turkish Hollywood" -- as there are long descriptions of the Turkish film industry, cinema bars and cafés, Turkish actors and actresses and Beyoğlu district theaters.
"Masumiyet Müzesi" is the name of a museum-house in which several scenes in the novel take place, and which Pamuk actually plans to open in Çukurcuma, İstanbul's funky antiques district. Pamuk started to collect the objects to be exhibited in the museum when he purchased the museum-house 10 years ago, and in preparation for the museum's opening he has researched how the furniture and objects of everyday life are exhibited all around the world.
Additionally, Pamuk has written two articles related to his new novel. The first article sheds light on the literary, personal and philosophical sources of "Masumiyet Müzesi," and the second one discusses the themes of famous love stories in general. The publication dates of the articles are not yet known.
Benzer Haberler 
