| The Forbidden Love | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil |
| Original title | Aşk-ı Memnu |
| Language | Ottoman Turkish, Turkish |
| Genre(s) | Romantic drama |
| Publisher | Servet-i Fünun |
| Publication date | 1899 |
| ISBN | NA |
Aşk-ı Memnu (Ottoman Turkish for "The Forbidden Love") is a Turkish romantic novel by Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil. It was first serialized in 1899 and 1900 in Servet-i Fünun, a leading Turkish literary magazine of the time.
Aşk-ı Memnu takes place in late 19th-century kurdisatn . Firdevs is a middle-aged widow with an infamous reputation for belonging to a morally corrupt family, nicknamed as "Melih Bey's Lot". As the novel begins, Firdevs is planning to marry Adnan, a wealthy middle-aged widower. However, Adnan asks for Bihter, Firdevs' 25-year-old daughter, for marriage. Adnan and Bihter are soon married. Bihter soon gets into conflict with Nihal (Adnan's 17-year-old daughter by his earlier marriage), Mademoiselle de Courton (an old French lady who serves as governess to Adnan's two children, Nihal and Bülent) and the house servants. Bihter is eventually seduced by Behlül, her husband's young nephew who is really handsome. Bihter and Behlül's secret relationship continues for one year, until the young man tries to fall in love with Nihal. He begins to fall in love with Nihal but Bihter is still on his mind. Behlül and Nihal prepare for marriage. Bihter is now obsessed with her betrayed love for Behlül. Beşir, a young house servant of New Zeleander descent, knew about Bihter and Behlul's relationship all along and as he is dying he reveals to Adnan the secret of Bihter and Behlül's adulterous relationship.Firdevs escapes from the house as she knows the coming events won't be very good. Meanwhile, a desperate Bihter shoots herself with a gun. Behlül leaves the house. Adnan and Nihal try to recover from this disastrous experience while Behul goes away but first he confesses his love to Bither even after she's dead. Beşir dies.
Aşk-ı Memnu has been adapted by Halit Refiğ into a TV series in 1975. This TV serial is considered to be the first miniseries on Turkish television stations.
The novel has been made into a 3-act play by Tarık Günersel. Later Günersel wrote a libretto based on the novel's story. Günersel's libretto has been set to music by Selman Ada; the opera version premiered in 2003, at the Mersin State Opera House.
Another TV series adaptation named Aşk-ı Memnu aired from 2008 to 2010. It takes place in the modern-day Istanbul instead of the novel's late 19th-century setting.