In Jail with Nazim Hikmet

Moving and remarkable Andrew Finkel

Bursa prison, mid-winter 1940. Two prisoners meet, both writers, both serving long sentences for allegedly inciting Turkish soldiers to mutiny. One is Turkeys most famous poet and communist, Nazim Hikmet; the other 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 remarkable poet and describes how Nazim inspired him to become one of Turkeys most popular and successful novelist. A fascinating account of one of the great friendships in Turkish letters, this volume includes Orhan

Kemals diary entries and Nazims letters to him after Orhans release from prison in 1943.

Orhan Kemals titles are amongst those rare treasures one encounters in life. Only a few other authors can impress and shape the reader like he does. Orhan Kemal shows us the way to am hope and be optimistic again.