Sabahattin Ali facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sabahattin Ali
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Sabahattin Ali
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| Born | 25 February 1907 Eğridere, Gümülcine, Ottoman Empire (modern Ardino, Bulgaria) |
| Died | 2 April 1948 (aged 41) Kırklareli, Turkey |
| Occupation | Author, poet, journalist |
| Nationality | Turkish |
| Period | 1926–1947 |
| Literary movement | Realism, social realism |
| Spouse |
Aliye Ali
(m. 1935) |
| Children | Filiz Ali |
| Relatives | Selahattin Ali (Father), Husniye Ali (Mother), Saniye Süheyla Conkman (1922–2017) Sister |
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Sabahattin Ali (born February 25, 1907 – died April 2, 1948) was a famous Turkish writer. He wrote novels, short stories, and poems. He also worked as a journalist.
Early Life and Education
Sabahattin Ali was born in 1907 in a town called Eğridere. This place is now known as Ardino in southern Bulgaria. His father, Selahattin Ali, was an officer in the Ottoman Empire. His mother's name was Husniye.
His family moved a lot when he was young. He lived in cities like Istanbul, Çanakkale, and Edremit. World War I made his childhood difficult and interrupted his schooling.
He later went to a Teacher School in Balıkesir. He then moved to the School of Education in Istanbul. He finished his studies there in 1926 and became a certified teacher. While at school, he had his poems and short stories published in the student paper.
After teaching for a year in Yozgat, he received a special scholarship. This allowed him to study in Potsdam, Germany, from 1928 to 1930. When he came back to Turkey, he taught German in high schools in Aydın and Konya.
Challenges and Writings
While teaching in Konya, Sabahattin Ali faced some difficulties. He was arrested because of a poem he wrote. This poem was seen as critical of the government's policies at the time. He spent several months in prison, first in Konya and then in the Sinop Fortress Prison.
In 1933, he was released from prison. This happened during a special pardon to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. After his release, he wanted to teach again. He wrote a poem called "Benim Aşkım" (My Love) to show his loyalty. He was then given a job in the publications division at the Ministry of National Education.
Sabahattin Ali married Aliye on May 16, 1935. They had a daughter named Filiz. He also served in the military in 1936. During World War II, he was called back to military service two more times. He was imprisoned again in 1944 but was later released.
He also helped start a popular weekly magazine called Marko Paşa. He worked on this magazine with other famous writers like Aziz Nesin and Rıfat Ilgaz. He also contributed to other magazines, including Yurt ve Dünya and Adımlar.
His Death
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After being released from prison, Sabahattin Ali had money problems. He was also not allowed to get a passport. He died near the Bulgarian border around April 1 or 2, 1948. His body was found later, on June 16, 1948.
Many people believe he was killed by a smuggler named Ali Ertekin. This smuggler might have been working with the National Security Service. Another idea is that Ertekin handed him over to the security services, and he died during questioning.
In 2007, people celebrated Sabahattin Ali's 100th birthday in Ardino, Bulgaria. He is a well-known author in Bulgaria. His books have been read in schools there since the 1950s. He is especially admired by the Turkish people living in Bulgaria.
His Legacy
Sabahattin Ali's short novel "Madonna in a Fur Coat" (written in 1943) is considered one of the best stories in Turkish literature. It was first published in parts in a daily newspaper between 1941 and 1942.
Recently, translations of this novel have become very popular. They have sold many copies in Turkey. "Madonna in a Fur Coat" was published as a Penguin Classic. This is a special honor for important books from around the world.
See also
- Turkish literature
- "Sabahattin Ali", by Asim Bezirci, 1974, paperback.
