Tahsin Yücel

Short story writer, novelist and translator (b. 17 February 1933, Elbistan / Kahramanmaraş). He graduated from Galatasaray High School where he studied as a free boarder (1953), Istanbul University, Faculty of Letters, Department of French Language and Literature (1960). He worked in Varlık Publications in his graduate days. He became an assistant and professor at the department where he graduated.

Beginning in the review Varlık in 1960, his short stories were published in the reviews such as Seçilmiş Hikâyeler, Yeryüzü, Beraber and May. In his short stories, he told about the people of Elbistan region. He translated nearly eighty works from French literature. He became an expert of 19th and 20th century French literature and semiotics. He won 1956 Sait Faik Short Story Award with his work Haney Yaşamalı (Haney Must Live), Turkish Language Association Short Story Award in 1959, Azra Erhat Translation Literature “Eminent Services Award” in 1984, 1993 Orhan Kemal Novel Award with his book Peygamberin Son Beş Günü (The Last Five Days of the Prophet), 1999 Sedat Simavi Award with his essay book Söylemlerin İçinden (Through the Discourses) and 2003 Yunus Nadi Novel Award with his novel Yalan (The Lie). The book Komşular (The Neighboors) was selected the book of the year by Dünya Books.

WORKS:

SHORT STORY: Uçan Daireler (Flying Saucers, 1954), Haney Yaşamalı (Haney Must Live, 1955), Düşlerin Ölümü (The Death of the Dreams, 1958), Yaşadıktan Sonra (After Living, 1969), Dönüşüm (The Transformation, 1975), Ben ve Öteki (Me and the Other, 1983), Aykırı Öyküler (Contrary Stories, 1989), Komşular (The Neighbors, 1999).

NOVEL: Mutfak Çıkmazı (Kitchen Dead End, 1960), Vatandaş (The Citizen, 1975), Peygamberin Son Beş Günü (The Five Days of the Prophet, 1992), Bıyık Söylencesi (The Legend of Moustache, 1995), Yalan (The Lie, 2002), Kumru ile Kumru (Dove and Dove, 2005).

STUDY: Anadolu Masalları (Anatolia Tales, 1957), L'Imaginaire de Bernanos (The Imagination of Bernanos, 1969), Figures et Messages dans la Comédie Humaine (The Figures and Messages of The Human Comedy, 1973), Anlatı Yerlemleri (Narration Dimensions, 1979), Dil Devrimi ve Sonuçları (Language Revolution and Results, 1982), Yapısalcılık (Structuralism, 1982).

ESSAY-RESEARCH: Dil Devrimi (Language Revolution, 1968), Yazın ve Yaşam (Literature and Life, 1976), Yazının Sınırları (The Limits of The Writing, 1982), Eleştirinin Abece'si (The Abc of Criticism, 1991), Tartışmalar (The Discussions, 1993), Yazın Gene Yazın (Literature Again Literature, 1995), Alıntılar (Quotes, 1997), Söylemlerin İçinden (Through the Discourses, 1998), Salaklık Üstüne Deneme (A Treaty on Imbecility, 2001).

INTERVIEW: Görünmez Adam (The Invisible Man, interview by Kaan Özkan, album, 2001).

He has also translations.