In “Snow” (2002) by Nobel laureate author Orhan Pamuk (born in Istanbul, 1952), the many different aspects of a contradictory country like Turkey are highlighted, where various conflicting perceptions and worldviews coexist in a state of conflict. Between the deeply ingrained religious roots of Islam and the promising modernization of the West, modern Turkey, as depicted in “Snow,” stands indecisive and ambivalent, hesitating and obstructing.
The author Pamuk, known for his pro-Western, modernizing views, appears remarkably well-intentioned towards political voices that clearly oppose his own. He approaches all those involved with sympathy, regardless of their political backgrounds, and makes a touching effort not to exercise negative criticism, even when depicting extremists with a clear anti-social agenda.
