Recently Anne posted a link to a website called "and that's the way it was". It reminded me of the title of the autobiography of Aziz Nesin. In English it is called Istanbul Boy but in Turkish it is Boyle Gelmis Boyle Gitmez which translates as "That's How It Was But Not How It's Going to Be". Aziz was born in 1915 and his autobiography is about growing up in the aftermath of the First World War and the rise of the Republic of Turkey. Aziz was a great writer and humourist: a socialist who wanted to see great changes in Turkey. I was encouraged to read this book by Hulki, now at the Calis Beach Indian. When I say "encouraged" I mean forcefully instructed as Hulki thought it a disgrace that a so-called educated person should not have read the works of this finest of Turkish authors. The book was indeed a great read and I am reminded of it when people talk about "respecting Turkish traditions". Aziz Nesin didn't respect a lot of them and wanted to sweep them away. He was President of the Turkish Writers Association and opposed the military coup of 1980. If he was alive today, Erdogan would have him banged up as proirity number one.
I thoroughly recommend his works to you.
