Oğuz Atay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oğuz Atay
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| Born | October 12, 1934 İnebolu, Turkey |
| Died | December 13, 1977 (aged 43) Istanbul, Turkey |
| Resting place | Edirnekapı Martyr's Cemetery , Istanbul |
| Occupation | Novelist, engineer |
| Alma mater | Istanbul Technical University |
| Period | 1970–1977 |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Literary movement | Modernism, Postmodernism |
| Notable works | Tutunamayanlar, Tehlikeli Oyunlar |
Oğuz Atay (born October 12, 1934 – died December 13, 1977) was a very important writer in Turkey. He helped create the modern novel style there.
His first novel, Tutunamayanlar (which means The Disconnected), came out in 1971–72. At first, it was not reprinted and some critics didn't like it. But after he passed away, a new edition came out in 1984, and it became a huge best-seller. Many people now call it one of the most important Turkish novels of the 20th century. It has been translated into several languages, like Dutch, German, English, and Greek.
Contents
Life Story of Oğuz Atay
Oğuz Atay was born on October 12, 1934, in a town called İnebolu in Turkey. His father, Cemil Atay, was a judge and also worked in the Turkish Parliament. This meant he helped make laws for the country.
Oğuz Atay went to elementary and middle school in Ankara. He finished high school at Ankara Maarif Koleji. Then, he studied to become an engineer at ITU School of Civil Engineering. Later, he became a teacher at Istanbul State Engineering and Architecture School (which is now Yildiz Technical University). He became an associate professor in 1975.
His most famous novel, Tutunamayanlar, was published in 1971–72. His second novel, Tehlikeli Oyunlar, came out in 1973. He also wrote plays, short stories, and a book about someone's life. Sadly, he died from a brain tumor on December 13, 1977. He passed away before he could finish his last book, "Türkiye'nin Ruhu" (The Spirit of Turkey).
Oğuz Atay's Books and Works
All of Oğuz Atay's literary works are now published by Iletişim. Here are some of his main books:
- Topoğrafya (1970) — This was a textbook he wrote for students who were learning about surveying land.
- Tutunamayanlar (1971–72) — This is his famous novel, known as The Disconnected.
- Tehlikeli Oyunlar (1973) — Another novel, which means Dangerous Games.
- Bir Bilim Adamının Romanı: Mustafa İnan (1975) — This is a book about the life of a scientist named Mustafa İnan. It's called The Life of a Scientist.
- Korkuyu Beklerken (1975) — A collection of his short stories, meaning Waiting for the Fear.
- Oyunlarla Yaşayanlar — This is a play he wrote, titled Those who Live by Games.
- Günlük — This book is his personal diary, published with copies of his handwritten notes.
- Eylembilim — This was an unfinished story, meaning Science of Action.
He had hoped to write a very important book called "Türkiye'nin Ruhu" (The Spirit of Turkey). But he passed away before he could finish it. We don't know exactly what kind of book it would have been.
How Oğuz Atay Changed Writing
Oğuz Atay lived at a time when Turkey was trying to become more like Western countries. He believed in science and modern ideas. He didn't miss the old ways of the Ottoman Empire, even though he knew a lot about its literature.
However, he also felt that some Western influences were not good for Turkish culture. He didn't agree with people who only looked to the past. He also didn't fully agree with the political groups of his time. He felt that no other Turkish writers truly showed life as he saw it.
So, Atay decided to use ideas from the West in his own way. He often wrote about everyday things from Western culture, like old historical novels, Hollywood movies, or even small facts from encyclopedias. He showed how Turkish life was changing and sometimes breaking apart. He also played with language, using old Ottoman words, new "pure" Turkish words, and everyday slang.
One of his favorite ideas was that talking to people is like playing games. These could be fun games of friendship, formal games when you meet new people, or the strict rules of government offices.
After Tutunamayanlar was published, many Turkish writers started to try new styles. This included writers like Adalet Ağaoğlu, and later even famous authors like Orhan Pamuk.
Special Recognition
On October 12, 2020, Google honored Oğuz Atay on what would have been his 86th birthday. They created a special Google Doodle to celebrate him.
