From Istanbul to Anatolia: Reconstructing Collective Memory in Loxandra and Farewell Anatolia

This study examines the reconstruction of collective memory in Maria Iordanidou’s Loxandra (Λωξάνδρα) and Dido Sotiriou’s Farewell Anatolia (Ματωμένα Χώματα), focusing on their portrayal of Greek communities in Istanbul and Anatolia, respectively. Drawing on Maurice Halbwachs’s theory of collective memory and Pierre Nora’s concept of lieux de mémoire (sites of memory), the analysis explores how these novels function as literary archives of a vanished world. The research addresses the central question of how space and memory are represented to preserve these communities’ cultural identity in the wake of displacement and historical rupture. Farewell Anatolia delves into the collective memory of rural Anatolia, where the land itself becomes a primary lieu de mémoire, embodying both belonging and the trauma of forced migration. In contrast, Loxandra captures the intricate social fabric of Istanbul’s Greek community through urban spaces, domestic rituals, and culinary traditions, portraying the city as a palimpsest of memory layered with cultural meanings. A comparative analysis reveals that while both novels are steeped in nostalgia and act as vessels for cultural preservation, they highlight distinct spatial contexts: the rural, communal memory of Anatolia versus the urban, cosmopolitan memory of Istanbul. The findings suggest that literature serves as a crucial medium for sustaining collective identity, showing that the negotiation of memory is intrinsically tied to specific geographical and social landscapes, and ultimately contributes to our understanding of the enduring impact of historical upheaval on cultural memory.