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Sait AbasuyanukTurkish writer.
Date of Birth: 18.11.1906
Country:  Turkey |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Sait Faik Abasıyanık was born into a wealthy merchant family. In 1928, he entered the Faculty of Turkology at Istanbul University. However, influenced by his father, he began studying economics in Switzerland in 1930.
Wanderlust and Teaching
After abandoning his studies, Abasıyanık spent three years in Grenoble, France. Upon returning to Turkey, he taught Turkish language at an Armenian orphanage. Attempts at business ventures proved unsuccessful.
Turning to Literature
From 1934 onward, Abasıyanık dedicated himself to literature. He revitalized Turkish short story writing with his poignant yet humane portrayals of laborers, children, the unemployed, and the impoverished.
Major Works
Abasıyanık's writings were primarily set in Istanbul or neighboring islands, often exploring the theme of the sea. His realistic stories, grounded in subjective observations that often captured unexpected aspects of events, had a significant impact on modern Turkish prose. Notable works include his novels "The Motor of the Cycle of Life" (1944) and "The Search for the Lost" (1953), as well as short story collections like "Samovar" (1936), "The Outsider" (1948), and "The Last Birds" (1952).
Poetry and Legacy
Abasıyanık also dabbled in poetry, with a collection titled "It's Time for Love" published in 1953. His untimely death in 1954 due to alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver left a profound void in Turkish literature. Since 1954, an annual literary prize has been awarded in his name for the best collection of short stories.
