Yaşar Kemal, a legendary Turkish writer known for his novel “Memed My Hawk”
Yaşar Kemal was born in Hemite village of Adana Osmaniye on 6 October 1923. He lost his father to a murder when he was very young. He became interested in writing at a young age. Kemal, who started secondary school in 1941 but lost his right to boarding school because he fell ill in his senior year, devoted himself to literature, worked in different jobs such as laborer, civil servant, construction inspector, teacher’s deputy and petition-writer.
His first poem was published in 1939 and his first book in 1943. After various stories and interviews, he published his most famous book, the novel INCE MEMED (MEMED MY HAWK), in 1955. After that, Yaşar Kemal, who brought many valuable works to Turkish literature, also engaged in political activities and became the first president of the pen Writers Association.
For Yaşar KEMAL, CUKUROVA and Taurus (mountains) have the same meaning that Troy would have for Homer. This great writer who left behind 26 novels, 11 essays, 9 interviews, 2 stories and poetry to Turkish literature, died on February 28, 2015.
He also received abroad many awards and nominations such as “International Cino Del Duca award”, “Légion d’honneur medal”, “title Commandeur”, “French Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres by the Ministry of culture Medal”, “Prem Internacional de Catalunya”, given by France, “the rank of Grand Officier of the Légion d’honneur”, the German Booksellers Association “Peace Prize of the Frankfurt Book Fair”, including over 20 awards, both abroad and at home.
Although Yaşar Kemal was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature several times, unfortunately he did not receive this award due to unfair propaganda. In fact, Yaşar Kemal is the real Nobel of Turkey. He is a writer who has fused two cultures. He wrote his tales with Kurdish rumors that he listened to as a child in the language of Dede Korkut, Karacaoglan. His language is the language of Anatolia. He is an epic writer in this aspect. So, just like Nazim Hikmet, he is a unique poet. He is a monument writer with all the novels, stories, even interviews he has written. (28 Feb 2021)
