Nedim Gürsel

Nedim Gürsel, born on April fifth, nineteen fifty-one, is a prominent Turkish writer and university teacher whose literary journey began in the late 1960s. After completing his education at Galatasaray High School in nineteen seventy, he pursued higher studies at the Sorbonne, graduating in nineteen seventy-four with a degree in Modern French Literature. His academic prowess culminated in a doctorate in comparative literature in nineteen seventy-nine, focusing on the works of Louis Aragon and Nazim Hikmet.

Gürsel's literary contributions include the acclaimed collection of stories, 'A Summer without End,' published in nineteen seventy-six, which earned him Turkey's highest literary accolade, the Prize of the Turkish Language Academy, in nineteen seventy-seven. However, his works faced significant challenges; following the military coup in nineteen eighty, his writings were subjected to censorship, and he was charged with slandering the Turkish army. Despite these adversities, he continued to write, with notable works such as 'The First Woman' and 'The Daughters of Allah,' the latter of which led to charges of insulting religion, though he was acquitted in June two thousand nine.

As a founding member of the International Parliament of Writers, Gürsel has made significant contributions to the literary community. In two thousand nineteen, he served as the eleventh Friedrich Dürrenmatt Guest Professor for World Literature at the University of Bern. Currently, he resides in France, where he teaches contemporary Turkish literature at the Sorbonne and holds the position of research director on Turkish Literature at the International French Science Research Center (CNRS).

Throughout his career, Gürsel has received numerous awards, including the Abdi Ipekçi Prix in nineteen eighty-six for fostering Greek-Turkish relations, the Freedom Award from the French PEN Club, and the France-Turquie Literary Prize in two thousand four. His extensive bibliography features works such as 'Kadınlar Kitabı' (The Book of Women), 'Sevgilim İstanbul' (Istanbul My Love), and 'Yaşar Kemal: Bir Geçiş Dönemi Romancısı' (Yachar Kemal: the novel of a transition), showcasing his versatility and depth as a writer.