Discover Turkish literature at the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centre

Full Program of Events Announced in Celebration of London Book Fair 2013 Market Focus Turkey

The Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centre is one of the London Book Fair Market Focus partners and will be the host for Turkey's literary events at the book fair. 

The events will include discussions on Turkish literature, poetry and language held at the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centre, in Maple Street W1, which regularly runs courses and activities related to Turkey and Turkish culture. 

Director of London's Turkish Culture and Tourism Office, Tolga Tuyluoglu, says: "We are very excited that the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centre is running a really interesting set of discussions and activities introducing the richness of Turkish literature and poetry to all those interested. These events will complement perfectly this year's London Book Fair (15-17 April) for which Turkey is the market focus country".

Events Program

Saturday 6th  April 2013

12.00 Criticism in Turkish Literature from the point of views of the Authors 

Zekeriya Başkal  in conversation with Sadık Yalsızuçanlar

Criticism, the most important assessment criteria in literature, is a traditional form in Turkish Literature. In this session, criticism tradition and the important names in Turkish Literature will be assessed by novelists and short story writers. 

Saturday 13th  April 2013 

12.00 Opening Reception for the Photography Exhibition titled “19th Century Istanbul through James Robertson’s Eyes” - Panel: Anatolia from the Travellers’ Perspective 

Moderator: Fahri Aral, 

Participants : Nazan Aksoy, Özalp Birol

Istanbul has been host to many experts from various countries in the last centuries of the Ottoman Empire. One of these experts is James Robertson, who was hired by the Darphane-i Amire (Mint Directorate) as Modelist and Engraver. After the panel, “Anatolia from the Travellers’ Perspective”, the 19th Century Istanbul Exhibition consisting of Robertson’s photographs in the Pera Museum’s collection will be opened.

Tuesday 16th  April 2013 

18.30 Challenging Issues in the Children’s and Youth Books 

Moderator: Sevim Ak, 

Participants : Sophie Smiley, Aslı Der

The writers, who in literature embrace many challenging issues that children and youth encounter in Turkey such as death, divorce, abuse, rejection, will discuss the intricacies of giving new horizons and perspectives to children and the young readers in writing on these challenging issues.

Wednesday 17th  April 2013 

18.30 Writing for Youth and Children

Moderator   : Mine Soysal 

Participants : Mevlana İdris, Nuran Turan, Gülten Dayıoğlu, 

Renowned writers in the Turkish child and youth literature will share with the participants their literary perspectives in the adventure of writing for children and youth and the way they address children.

Friday 26th  April 2013 

18.30 The Issue of Identity and Othering in Turkish Literature 

Moderator  : Akif Kireçci

Participants: Jaklin Çelik, Şeyhmus Diken

The land of Anatolia is considered as the gate of clans. The speakers will assess the othering phenomenon in this cultural climate, where different cultures gather and mingle.

Monday 6th May 2013

18.30 The Social Process and the Novel in Turkey 

Participants: Zülfü Livaneli, Nedim Gürsel, Feyza Hepçilingirler

Important milestones such as the foundation of the Republic, military coups of May 27 and September 12 have been addressed by many novelists in the Turkish novel. The speakers will elaborate this issue within the context of both their own novels and the novels of other writers.

Monday 16th  May 2013

18.30 Poetry, Poet and Life

Moderator : Osman Konuk

Participants: Deniz Durukan, Arif Ay

The poets will talk about Turkish poetry and the lives of poets with examples of their own poems and lives. 

Wednesday 22th May 2013 

18.30 The Relationship between Philosophy and Literature in Turkey 

Participants: Selahattin Yusuf, Nihan Kaya

Works have been produced on the axis of different philosophical disciplines in the Turkish literature tradition. The speakers will assess this relationship and literary works with a philosophical dimension at the intersection point of literature and philosophy.