Poet and writer (b. 14 February 1920, İstanbul- d. 20 August 1979). His
father İsmail Hakkı was a lecturer at the Faculty of Divinity and he was the
friend of Mehmet Akif. He attended Gönen Primary School (1933), Kumkapı
Secondary School (1937) and graduated from Kütahya High School (1941), İstanbul
University, Faculty of Law. He worked for a short time at the Ministry of
National Education, the General Directorate of Publications (1943) and worked
at the Petrol Office until retirement (1947-72). He is buried at Karacaahmet
Graveyard.
His first poems written in syllabic meter were published in the magazine
Servet-i Fünûn- Uyanış (1937-38).
Then he began to write socialist poems that were published in the magazines Yürüyüş (1942-43, 18 issues), Ant, Fikir ve Sanat, Kaynak, Şairler
Yaprağı, Yeni Ufuklar, Ataç, and Yansıma. He was also a member of the
management of these magazines. He managed the magazine İnkılapçı Gençlik (1941-42). After his death, a Poetry Award was
established in his name by his wife Füruzan Toprak. His unpublished works and
new editions of his books were also prepared for publication by his wife.
WORKS:
POETRY: İnsanlar (People, 1943), Hürriyet
(Independence, with Suat Taşer, 1945), Dağda
Ateş Yakanlar (The Ones Making Fire on the Mountains, 1955), Susan Anadolu (Silent Anatolia, 1966), Ay Işığı (Moonlight, 1973), Ömer
Faruk Toprak- Tüm Şiirleri (Ömer
Faruk Toprak- His Complete Poems, prepared by his wife Füruzan Toprak, 1983).
MEMOIR: Duman ve Alev (Smoke and Flame, 1968).
NOVEL: Tuz ve Ekmek
(Salt and Bread, 1973).
SHORT STORY: Karşı Pencere (Opposite Window, 1975), Gönen Öyküleri (Stories of Gönen,
children’s stories, 1979).
TRAVEL LITERATURE: Bir Geziden
Kalanlar- Sosyalist Ülkelere Yolculuk (What is Left Behind - A Journey to
Socialist Countries, prep. pub. by Füruzan Toprak, 2000).
ESSAY: Ömer Faruk Toprak’ın
Düzyazıları (The Prose of Ömer Faruk Toprak, prepared by Füruzan Toprak,
1994), Ömer Faruk Toprak’ın
KalemindenPortreler (Portraits from the Writing of Ömer Faruk, prepared by
F. Toprak, 1999).
Also he wrote material for Sosyalist
Kültür Ansiklopedisi (Socialist Culture Encyclopedia, 1980).