CEMAL SÜREYA

Cemal Süreya (1931 – January 9, 1990) was one of the most prominent poets, essayists, and translators of modern Turkish literature and a leading figure of the İkinci Yeni (Second New) avant-garde poetry movement. Born Cemalettin Seber in Erzincan, his family was exiled to Bilecik following the 1938 Dersim events.

After graduating from Ankara University, Faculty of Political Sciences in Finance and Economics, he worked as a financial inspector and held administrative posts in the Ministry of Finance. In the literary sphere, he became renowned for his innovative style, rich imagery, subtle humor, erotic themes, and masterful command of the Turkish language. Through the influential literary magazine Papirüs, which he founded and edited, he played a crucial role in shaping contemporary Turkish literature.

His seminal poetry collections include Üvercinka, Göçebe, Beni Öp Sonra Doğur Beni, Güz Bitiği, and Sıcak Nal. Alongside his poetry, he left behind a vast body of work in essays, literary criticism, and translations.