Füruzan (born Feruze Çerçi, 29 October 1932 – 11 February 2024) was a Turkish self-taught writer, who was highly regarded for her sensitive characterisations of the poor and her depictions of Turkish immigrants abroad.

Biography

Born in

Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...

, Turkey as Feruze Çerçi, she enjoyed reading as a child but left school in the eighth grade following the death of her father. She worked as an actress with the Little Theater acting company and began writing poems and short stories. She married cartoonist Turhan Selçuk in 1958 and the couple had a daughter before they divorced. She became a full-time writer following her divorce in 1968. She published her first collection of short stories ''Parasiz Yatili'' (''Free Boarding School'') in 1971 and was awarded the Sait Faik Short Story Award. She published her first novel ''47’liler'' (''Those Born in ’47'') in 1975 won and was awarded the Turkish Language Association Novel Award. Füruzan died in her birthplace, Istanbul, on 11 February 2024, at the age of 91. Her funeral was organised at Zincirlikuyu Mosque on February 16, 2024 and she was buried in

Zincirlikuyu Cemetery The Zincirlikuyu Cemetery () is a modern burial ground in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey. It is administered by the Metropolitan Municipality. Many prominent figures from the world of politics, business, sports and arts rest here. The ce ...

English language bibliography

One collection of Füruzan's short stories has been published in English translation.

''A Summer Full of Love''

2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...

short story collection by Turkish writer Füruzan published by Milet Books, in dual Turkish and English translation by Damian Croft, as part of its series of Turkish-English Short Story Collections. A review in ''Write Away'' states that the style of the work, "is an excellent introduction to the techniques of short story writing, and encourages a realization of the different parameters that this genre requires", before concluding that this is, challenging and immensely rewarding read..."

Editions

On-line translations

''The River''
at Boğaziçi University.
''In the Park by the Pier''
at Boğaziçi University.

Bibliography

Short story collections

*''Parasiz Yatili'' (''Free Boarding School'') (1971) *''Kusatma'' (''The Siege'') (1972), *''Benim Sinemalarim'' (''My Cinemas'') (1973), *''Gecenin Oteki Yuzu'' (''The Other Face of the Night'') (1982), *''Gul Mevsimidir'' (''It’s the Season for Roses'') (1985). *"Su Ustası Miraç"

Novels

*''47’liler'' (''Those Born in ’47'') (1975), *''Berlin’in Nar Cicegi'' (''The Pomegranate Blossom of Berlin'') (1988).

Filmography

*''Sira sende fistik'' (1971, as actress) *''Ah güzel Istanbul'' (1981, as writer) *''Benim sinemalarim'' (''My Cinemas'') (1990, as writer & director)

Awards

*Awarded the 1971 Sait Faik Short Story Award for ''Parasiz Yatili'' (''Free Boarding School'') *Awarded the 1975 Turkish Language Association Novel Award for ''47’liler'' (''Those Born in ’47 '')

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Furuzan 1932 births 2024 deaths Turkish women novelists Writers from Istanbul Burials at Zincirlikuyu Cemetery 20th-century Turkish women writers 21st-century Turkish women writers 20th-century Turkish novelists 21st-century Turkish novelists