Storywriter
and novelist (b. 1931, İzmir – d. 11 Ağustos 2015, İzmir). After attending
elementary school (1950), he had to begin working to earn a living. He began to
work as a journalist on the newspaper İzmir Anadolu and he continued
with his career in many other newspapers. He wrote many book reviews for the
newspaper Milliyet. He wrote scenarios and worked as a stage director.
He established Kurul Publishing House in 1969. He managed Milliyet Publications
(1973) and Koza Publications, which he also founded (1975). He published a
monthly review with the name Günümüzde Kitaplar (1973-74).
He
began his literary studies by writing poems, and later on he wrote stories and
novels. His stories were published in the reviews Kaynak, Yeditepe, Seçilmiş
Hikâyeler and Mavi. He won the Journalists Achievement Award in 1960
for his feature Haritada Beş Nokta (Five Points on the Map). His novels Denizin
Kanı (Blood of the Sea) and Alçaktan Uçan Güvercin (The Pigeon
Flying Low) were adapted for television (1980). Denizin Kanı (The Blood
of the Sea) was translated into Russian in 1973 and into Bulgarian in 1978 and
was filmed in a documentary twice by Vardar Films in Yugoslavia. He collected
the Turkish Language Association Award in 1961 for his book Güzel Avrat Otu
(Deadly Nightshade), the Sait Faik Short Story Award in 1967 for his book Yabanın
Adamları (Men of the Wilderness) and again the Sait Faik Short Story Award
in 1985 for his book Ona Sevdiğimi Söyle (Tell Her I Love Her), the
Orhan Kemal Novel Award in 1984 for his book Kurşun Ata Ata Biter
(Shooting Uses Up Bullets), the İş Bank Grand Award for Literature for Ömrüm
Ömrüm (Life, Oh Life) and the Yunus Nadi Award for Published Novels in 1991
with Ağaçlar Gibi Ayakta (Standing Like the Trees).
WORKS:
POETRY:
Devriâlem (World Tour with Cengiz Tuncer, 1951).
SHORT
STORY: Hasangiller (Sons of Hasan, 1955), Vezir Düşü (Vizier’s
Dream, 1957), Güzel Avrat Otu (Deadly Nightshade, 1960), 36 Kısım
Tekmili Birden (36 Episodes Full-Length Movie, 1970), Bağrıyanık Ömer
ile Güzel Zeynep (Heart Sick Ömer and Beautiful Zeynep, 1972), Bahriyeli
Çocuk (Sailor Guy, 1976), İmbatla Dolu Kalbin (Your Heart’s Full of
the Sea Breeze, 1982), Ona Sevdiğimi Söyle (Tell Her I Love Her, 1984), Ömrüm
Ömrüm (Life, Oh Life, 1987), Aşk Allah'a Ismarladık (Good Bye Love,
1993).
NOVEL:
Rıza Bey Aile Evi (Rıza Bey Family House, 1957), İnsan Kurdu (Man
Wolf, 1959), Sabah Olmasın (Never be the Morning, 1967), Denizin Kanı
(Blood of Sea, 1968), Kopuk Takımı (Bum Team, 1969), Gün Döndü (Sunflower,
1974), Kayabaşı Uygarlığının Yükselişi ve Birdenbire Çöküşü (The Rise
And Sudden Fall of Kayabaşı Civilization, 1980), Alçaktan Uçan Güvercin (The
Pigeon Flying Low, 1980), Kurşun Ata Ata Biter (Shooting Uses Up
Bullets, 1983), İyi Geceler Dünya (Good Night World, 1986), Bağışla
Onları (Forgive Them, 1989), Otobüsüm Kalkıyor (My Bus is About to
Leave, 1990), Ağaçlar Gibi Ayakta (Standing Like the Trees, 1990), Bizimkisi
Zor Zenaat (Ours is a Hard Work, 1990), Gönderdiğin Mektubu Aldım (I
Received Your Letter, 1999), Alo, Harika Hanım Nasılsınız (Hello, Ms.
Wonderful How are You? 1999).
CHILDREN’S
LITERATURE: Deve Tellal Pire Berber İken ve Bir Küçücük Aslancık Varmış
(Once Upon a Time There was this Little Lion, fairy tale), Hoşça Kal Küçük
(Goodbye Little One, children’s novel, 1979), Her Gece Bir Masal-Güzel
Uykular Alara (One Tale Each Night - Good Night Alara, 2002).
ESSAY-CRITICISM: Edebiyat Üstüne Narin (Tenderly
on Literature, 1993), Ben Unutmadan (Before I Forget, 1994).