Summary
Highlights
Boris Johnson's great-grandfather, Ali Kemal, was born in Istanbul in 1869, during the decline of the Ottoman Empire. Boris meets his cousin Sinan to learn about Ali Kemal’s childhood. Ali Kemal's father was a wealthy merchant who provided his son with a traditional Muslim education, including memorizing the Quran by age six.
Ali Kemal later traveled to France, became a successful journalist, and married Winifred Brun in 1903. They had a daughter, Thelma. In 1908, Ali Kemal returned to Turkey with his family, settling in Bebek, a village near Istanbul, and continued his career as a journalist.
Boris meets historian Ben to examine some of Ali Kemal’s original newspaper articles. Ali Kemal was the lead columnist for the newspaper 'Big Dum-Dum,' writing critical political pieces that appeared on the front page, considered prime real estate for a journalist.
After a revolution in Turkey in 1909, radical nationalists seized power. Appalled by their repressive tactics and political murders, Ali Kemal used his columns to criticize the new government, arguing that force and pressure had no place in a constitutional era.
Ali Kemal faced serious risks by speaking out. An opposition editor with similar political views had been assassinated just four days before one of his articles was published, highlighting the dangers for journalists who challenged the government. Boris reflects on the fine line between journalistic impact and political safety.