2018 The Red Haired Woman - Orhan Pamuk(Faber & Faber)

*The Red-Haired Woman* is a novel by Orhan Pamuk, published in 2016. Set in Turkey, the novel weaves together themes of myth, father-son relationships, tradition versus modernity, and political and social change in Turkish society. It is a layered and complex story that draws upon both Western and Eastern mythology, specifically focusing on two foundational myths: the Greek myth of Oedipus and the Persian legend of Rostam and Sohrab.

### Plot Overview:
The story follows Cem Çelik, a young boy in 1980s Istanbul, who takes on a summer job as an apprentice to a master well-digger named Mahmut Usta. They are hired to dig a well in a remote town, and Cem’s relationship with his master takes on a father-son dynamic, as Cem's own father has abandoned the family. As the two dig deeper into the earth, their bond grows stronger, but it also becomes strained as they confront the difficulties of their work.

During this time, Cem encounters a red-haired woman, an actress in a traveling theater company, who captivates him. This woman becomes an obsession for Cem, symbolizing desire, mystery, and danger. A tragic event later unfolds involving his master, which forces Cem to flee back to Istanbul.

Years later, Cem, now a successful engineer and businessman, is haunted by his past and his memories of Mahmut Usta and the red-haired woman. The novel takes a dramatic turn as Cem revisits the town, seeking answers about his past and confronting the consequences of his youthful actions.

### Themes:
1. **Father-Son Relationships**: At the core of the novel is the relationship between fathers and sons, explored through both personal and mythological lenses. The strained relationship between Cem and his father parallels the dynamics between Mahmut Usta and Cem, and reflects broader questions about authority, rebellion, and inheritance.

2. **Mythology and Storytelling**: Pamuk intertwines the story of Oedipus, who unknowingly kills his father, and the Persian epic of Rostam and Sohrab, in which a father kills his son in combat without realizing their relationship. These myths serve as allegories for Cem’s life and his own moral dilemmas.

3. **Tradition vs. Modernity**: The well-digging metaphor contrasts with Cem’s later career in modern engineering, reflecting the tension between Turkey's deep-rooted traditions and the forces of modernization. Pamuk explores how the past, both personal and national, continues to shape the present.

4. **Guilt and Consequence**: Cem's actions in his youth, particularly regarding the incident with Mahmut Usta, lead to a lifetime of guilt and unresolved questions. The novel delves into the consequences of seemingly small decisions and the way they ripple through time.

### Structure and Style:
Pamuk’s narrative is intricate and reflective, moving between past and present, blending personal history with broader social commentary. The novel also takes a metafictional turn towards the end, where Pamuk examines the nature of storytelling itself, showing how myths and personal histories are interwoven and how stories are reinterpreted across time and cultures.

### Reception:
*The Red-Haired Woman* was praised for its philosophical depth and exploration of universal themes, though some critics noted that it can be less accessible than some of Pamuk’s earlier works. The novel reflects Pamuk’s characteristic style of blending complex ideas with engaging storytelling.

In sum, *The Red-Haired Woman* is a novel rich with allegory and meaning, offering a meditation on identity, morality, and the inescapable influence of the past.