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Sait Faik Abasiyanik
(1907—1954)

Sait Faik Abasıyanık was one of the greatest Turkish writers of short stories and poetry. Born in Adapazarı, he was educated at the Istanbul German School for Boys (Istanbul Erkek Lisesi) and graduated from high school in Bursa. He enrolled in the Turcology Department of Istanbul University in 1928, but under pressure from his father went to Switzerland to study economics in 1930. He left school and lived for three years in Grenoble, France -an experience which made a deep impact on his art and character. After returning to Turkey he taught Turkish in Halıcıoğlu Armenian School for Orphans, and tried to follow his father's wishes and go into business but was unsuccessful. He devoted his life to writing after 1934. He created a brand new language and brought new life to Turkish short story writing with his harsh but humanistic portrayals of labourers, children, the unemployed, the poor. A major theme was always the sea and he spent most of his time in Burgaz Ada (one of the Princes' Islands in the Marmara Sea). He was an honorary member of the International Mark Twain Society of St. Louis, Missouri.

Turkey, 1992, Sait Faik Abasiyanik