Writer (b. 1890, İstanbul– d. 9 January 1945,
İstanbul). He graduated from Eğrikapı Central Secondary School and the Military
School for the Training of Clerks. He worked as a clerk at the General Staff
Office (1906) and as an officer at the Inspectorate of the Engineer Corps.
(1909). Osman Cemal, who was the clerk of mobile divisions during World War I,
became ill and retired disabled (1917) and after retiring, worked in several different
jobs to supplement his income. After the Republic he worked as a teacher at
İstanbul İmam Hatip High School (1925), Çemberlitaş Secondary School (1931) and
Fener Rum High School for Girls (1932-45). He died after an operation in Guraba
Hospital where he was diagnosed as having tuberculosis and cancer. He is buried
in Ortakçılar Graveyard.
His first article was published in a humorous paper Eşek run by Baha Tevfik in 1910 and then
he published his own humorous paper and also wrote humorous articles in Aydede, Güleryüz and Akbaba and
stories in Sabah, İkdam, Cumhuriyet
newspapers. In his works he followed the style of Hüseyin Rahmi Gürpınar and
Ahmet Rasim and he became known by his success in bringing to life the lives of
people living on the outskirts of İstanbul. Also he is known for playing roles
in many old Turkish open-air theatrical productions and with his close interest
in theatre and in play writing. With his most famous work Çingeneler (Gypsies, a novel) he received a placing in 1942 in the
Republican People's Party Novel Competition. In 2003, his four books were
republished together in one volume.
WORKS:
SHORT STORY: Eşkıya
Güzeli (Beautiful Bandit, 1925), Sandalım
Geliyor Varda (My Boot is Coming, Look Out! 1938).
NOVEL: Çingeneler
(Gypsies, 1939), Bekri Mustafa (Alcoholic
Mustafa, 1944), Aygır Fatma (Stallion
Fatma, 1944), Akşamcılar (Workers of
the Nightshift, not published but serialized in Açıkgöz newspaper), Kavuk
Palas (Hiding Palace Hotel, first appeared in Son Telgraf, with the name of Secret of Hiding place Hotel, 2003).
PLAY: İstanbul
Revüsü (İstanbul Revue, staged at the Ferah Theatre, 1925), Mezarlık Kızı (Graveyard Girl, 1927), Bana Benziyor mu? (Does It Look Like Me,
staged at the İstanbul Municipal City Theatre, 1928), Üfürükçü (Sorcerer, published, 1939; performed 1949).
RESEARCH: İstanbul’da
Semai Kahveleri ve Meydan Şairleri (Minstrels in Coffee Houses and the
Poets of the Squares of İstanbul).
DICTIONARY: İstanbul
Argosu Lugati (Dictionary of the Slang of İstanbul).
MEMOIR: Akşamcılar-
Eski bir Akşamcının Defterinden (Workers of the Nightshift-From the
notebook of an Old Nightshift Worker, 2003).
