Summary

Raif’s diary begins on page 41. Raif begins writing his diary on 20 June 1933 and states that something happened to him the day before that has made his current way of life seem unbearable. Rather than recounting yesterday’s events, Raif summarizes his life up until this point, with special emphasis on events that occurred in Berlin ten years previously.

Raif grew up in Turkey in his hometown of Havran. At age 18 he was drafted into the army during World War One, but the armistice was declared before he saw any action. After the war, Raif briefly attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Istanbul before dropping out. His father convinced him to go to Germany to observe their soap making industry so that he could return to Turkey and take over his father’s business. Raif moved to Berlin.

Raif began to study...