It's Bursa prison, mid-winter 1940. Two prisoners meet, both
writers, both serving long sentences for allegedly inciting
Turkish soldiers to mutiny. One is Turkey's most famous
poet, Nazim Hikmet. The other is a young, aspiring poet,
Orhan Kemal, who now shares a cell with the man whose work
he has long admired. In this prison memoir, Orhan Kemal
reminisces on the time he shared with the great poet and
describes how Hikmet inspired him to become one of Turkey's
most popular and successful novelists. "In Jail with Nazim
Hikmet" also includes Kemal's diary entries on Nazim and the
latter's correspondence with Kemal after his release from
prison in 1943.
REVIEWS:
A jewel of a memoir - beautifully translated.' Maureen
Freely
AUTHOR BIO:
Orhan Kemal (1914-1970) was one of Turkey's most popular
novelists. He was found guilty for breach of the penal code
during his military service, and served a prison sentence
from 1938 to 1943. From 1951 he made his living entirely by
writing - often with radical, anti-authoritarian content.
His prison memoir, Nazim Hikmet'le A c Bucuk Yul (Three and
a Half Years with Nazim Hikmet) was first published in
Turkey in 1965. The Idle Years was published by Peter Owen
in the UK in 2008. About the translator: Bengisu Rona
teaches Turkish language and literature at the School of
Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
Saqi Books : 26 Westbourne Grove, London, W2 5RH, Tel: (+44)
020 7221 9347, Fax: (+44) 020 7229 7492
Publication Date:
07 Jun 2010
ISBN: 0863564119
ISBN13: 9780863564116
Format: Paperback
Size: 200 x 130 x 14mm
Pages: 160
RRP: £10.99
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