Orhan Pamuk “Biography of Istanbul”

Almost the first Turkish writer, whose books are read by the whole world. Translations into dozens of languages, prestigious literary awards, and the main among them – the Nobel Prize – evidence of world recognition. In 2006, the prize was presented with words about the search for “the melancholy soul of the hometown” and “new images to describe the collision and interweaving of cultures.”

There are two main motifs in Pamuk’s work: the first is the painting of the ancient and changeable beauty of his native city. The second is the issue of relations between Western and Eastern cultural traditions, which is so acute for Turkey in the 20th century.

About the author

The writer was born and raised in Istanbul, a tender attachment to his native city is clearly visible in all his works.

• He studied at a prestigious American college in Istanbul.
• Influenced by his father, he entered Istanbul University in a technical specialty – he was supposed to become a civil engineer.
• After the 3rd year, he left his studies to devote all his time to literature.
• A few years later he entered the Institute of Journalism in Istanbul.
• He spent three years (1985-1988) in the USA, where he taught at Columbia University.
• For the next almost 20 years he lived and worked in his native city.
• In 2007, the Armenian human rights activist Hrant Dink died at the hands of extremists. Orhan Pamuk did not feel safe in Turkey and was forced to move to New York.
• Since 2007, he has taught writing and the history of world literature at Columbia University.Citizenship and conflict with the authorities

The author of world bestsellers and the first Nobel Prize winner in the history of Turkey, it would seem, should be surrounded by honor in his homeland. In fact, the picture is the opposite: if there are polar opinions among fellow citizens regarding the creativity and social activities of Orhan Pamuk, then the position of the authorities is unambiguously negative.

The reason for the hatred of the writer at home was that he recognizes the Armenian genocide and discrimination against the Kurds, and openly accuses the Turkish government of crimes.
In particular, Pamuk mentions the ethnic crimes of the regime against Armenians and Greeks in the middle of the 20th century in the book “Biography of Istanbul” (in another version of the translation into Russian, it is called “Istanbul. City of Memories”). This is a collection of autobiographical sketches, essays on the history of the city, historical notes and essays, published in 2003.

After an interview in 2005, when Pamuk cited the exact numbers of human victims of the pogroms of Armenians and Kurds in Istanbul, the authorities opened a criminal case against the writer. The trial against Orhan Pamuk was stopped several times under pressure from the international community, but after a while it was resumed again. The result for the writer was a move to the United States and a fine of almost $4,000.

“Biography of Istanbul” summary
Istanbul appears in all of Pamuk’s books, and his hometown holds a special place in his heart. Therefore, probably, the “Biography of Istanbul” is both an autobiographical essay and a guide to the history of the city.Orhan Pamuk rendered an invaluable service to his homeland: he introduced the description of real non-tourist Turkey into the world literature. He cleared Istanbul of stereotypes such as the oriental bazaar, Persian carpets, old men who looked like genies, men in turbans and with scimitars, exotic sweets and fake smiles.

Read “Biography of Istanbul” online and you will feel the gusty wind from the Bosporus, dampness from melting snow in winter, see Byzantine ruins and dilapidated mansions of the mid-twentieth century, streets where eastern and western architecture contrast side by side. The city has many different faces, among them there are gloomy, melancholy ones, yearning for the bygone splendor of the Ottoman Empire.