Halidé Edib
Isabel Fry’s tone within her diaries is blunt and to the point: it is a stream of consciousness. The diaries are a reflection of her innermost thoughts, and her admiration and respect for Halidé Ebid is evident in many of her entries.
Halidé was a Turkish novelist and women’s rights activist. Her passion for social reform, education and politics played a central role in her relationship with Isabel Fry.
Both women led extraordinary lives at the forefront of social, political and educational reform. Their friendship is an exemplification of how women of a higher social status were able to have prominent roles in society.
In the diary entry of 15th April 1914, Isabel describes Halidé’s achievements and seems to be in awe of her: ‘she is without doubt the most remarkable woman I have ever come into contact with’. The entry demonstrates the formidable force of Halidé, who would lead and oppose men, and was a leading force in Turkish politics.
The friendship between Isabel and Halidé is based not only on intellect but also on respect; there is a genuine sense of care. The entries relating to Halidé often demonstrate Fry's concern for her friend's precarious position because of her political allegiance. The entry from 9th October 1908 clearly illustrates this: Halidé escaped Constantinople because of the reactionary outbreak and travelled to England. The passion with which Isabel writes conveys a sense of admiration for her dear friend: she believes that Halidé possesses the skills required to help Turkey progress without ‘appropriating much of the west’.
Halidé and Isabel share a passion for education. Not only was Halidé hired to reform girls’ schools in Constantinople by the education ministry, but she also lectured at a university in Turkey. Isabel’s surprise and shock at this achievement is evident in her diary entry of 26th February 1921: ‘a woman is lecturing (? to men)’. Note her surprise and shock at this development – it is clearly an anomaly for this to happen and yet Halidé achieved it!
Transcript: "Friday. 09. Halidé Salih arrived from Alexandria. She had practically escaped thither from Constantinople in the terrible reactionary outbreak of April. She must be one of, if not the first true Turkish women to ever come to England There are people who shake their heads over such a dangerous innovation, but I am convinced it is too late for even the most pro-Oriental European to hope to be able to persuade Turkey not to appropriate much of the West. Halide at any rate is an ideal woman to do this pioneer work & to get all good & no harm from her experiences.
This evening Halidé and I talked the thing out further, and she is without doubt quite one of the most remarkable women I have ever come in contact with. She plays a most brave part in present Turkish history, leads the men, opposes them whenever she sees it well to do so, accepts new views, is extraordinarily broad and tolerant; accepts criticism from everyone who she thinks serious …
Feb. 26. A letter from Halidé from Angara, brought me by one of the Kemalist delegates whom I am now planning to see as soon as possible. I gather from it that something of the dream they talked of when I was in Stanbul is being worked out – viz a non-Byzantine Turkey on modern line (they seem to have a university there where Halidé – a woman is teaching (to men?) and for which she asks me now to buy her books."