The novel form was introduced to Turkish literature first though translations from Western, mainly French, literatures during the Tanzimat era (1839-1876), a period of reformation and westernization in the Ottoman Empire. These early translations, which were usually referred to as "adaptations" or "borrowings" by their translators, diverge greatly from the source texts. The point of departure from the source, Western texts--what early novelists chose to change or not to translate--allows us to understand the frame of mind of the early Turkish novelists: what they liked and disliked about western novels; what novelties in western novels they embraced and rejected; and most importantly how they repeated each other independently in their choices. The study of differences rather than similarities between target (Turkish) and source (Western) texts will show that early Turkish novels can be read as representations of a Tanzimat mentality rather than individual samples of westernization. As a result, a unified reading of early novels will help us to answer questions like "What was influential in early novelists' selection of western texts to adapt, translate, or rewritet" and "Why do we find a similar male character formation in early Turkish novels that were translated from or inspired by different western novels." This paper will discuss the departure from the original texts which will be interpreted as shared concerns and needs of the early novelists during a politically challenging time by exploring early translations with a focus on Ahmet Lutfi's translation of Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe in 1864.