Nobel Laureate Turkish Writer Orhan Pamuk Met His Readers in Istanbul

Orhan Pamuk is one of the most popular novelists in Turkey. Even though his wonderful talent for writing and picturing images into his works, he mostly owes this fame to the Novel Prize. So, the writer won the Nobel Literature Prize in 2006, and now his novels are available in more than 50 languages.

However, there is one significant novel, which he wrote 21 years ago. The book, “Benim Adım Kırmızı” – My Name is Red, is a true masterpiece of Mr Pamuk. Furthermore, the writer gained the biggest popularity after finished the book in 1999. So, the book took Orhan Pamuk to accomplish 4 years! And this modern classic is now 21 years old, because of that Orhan Pamuk met literature devotees of Istanbul in order to tell the story of the book.

Orhan Pamuk’s Widely Recognized Book: My Name is Red

Orhan Pamuk, as Turkey’s Nobel-winning author, met a packed Istanbul crowd on Tuesday. The reason for this meeting was his widely acclaimed book, My Name Is Red, The book is celebrating its 21st year in the literature world. Pamuk spoke at a panel discussion on the newly-published, “Writings on My Name is Red”. This is a book that combines 21 articles from various critics and writers as well as an interview with the Turkish author. On the other hand, the book’s editors, Erkan Irmak and Feride Cicekoglu, also contributed two articles. Therefore, they accompanied Pamuk during the panel discussion and moderated it.

The Significant Role of “Husrev and Shirin” Love Story in My Name Is Red

Istanbul native Pamuk began his speech by projecting a miniature depicting Husrev and Shirin. The story is a 12th-century Persian love story and the poet is Nizami Ganjavi. A miniature is an art form of the medieval period. The miniature realistically portrayed events while adhering to the traditional rules of Islamic art. However, Islam bans figuration. As Orhan Pamuk said, “This miniature is important to me,” He added that, “It is important to tell a story by looking at a miniature, and that a miniature is the beginning of a story. In my case, it is the beginning of a novel,” he implied.

As Orhan Pamuk stated that there was noting inspired him from the classical texts when he began writing his novel. The novelist said: “But in the classical texts, Shirin falls in love with Husrev when she sees his miniature for the third time. I didn’t want to use this tale. I was writing a contemporary novel using old stories, and wanted them to fall in love at first sight.” Later on, he added that the title of his novel had originally been “Love at first sight” when he first began writing it roughly 25 years ago.

My Names is Red as The Most Colourful and Optimistic Work of Orhan Pamuk

The publishing date of My Name is Red is 1999 and translated into English three years later. As well as over 50 languages since then, the book gained a great success. The book sold around 5 million copies around the world. According to Pamuk’s publisher, Yapı Kredi Culture Arts and Publishing, the book has a very valuable place in Turkish literature. Yapi Kredi described the book as Pamuk’s “most colourful and optimistic novel.” The novel set in 16th century Istanbul. What’s more, My Name is Red tells its story from the different perspectives of a myriad of characters. So, it includes a gold coin, the colour red and some corpses.

The Main Conflict in Orhan Pamuk’s My Name Is Red: The West and the East

The notions of west and east have always been very basic notions for both master novelists and politic thinkers. So the statement is also valid and valuable for the Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk. Writers use the conception of the tie between west and east as a historical conflict. However, Pamuk doesn’t like this idea. Due to the fact that he always tries to set a relationship between these two.

On the other side, he also declines the idea that forces people to choose only one identity and ignores others. He stated that “Yes, I look for trouble and wrote East-West themed novels.” But he added that “My understanding of East and West is not such that sees one as better or worse.” By saying this, he implies that he doesn’t take a side for whichever he likes more.

His books, My Name Is Red and Snow, became the most translated and read Turkish works in history. When Pamuk won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2006. Afterwards, the Swedish Academy said: “In the quest for the melancholic soul of his native city, he has discovered new symbols for the clash and interlacing of cultures.”

“The Museum of Innocence”

While we are talking about the world-famous Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk, the museum is a must to talk. The Museum of Innocence is the name of one of Orhan Pamuk’s novels. In addition to that, the name of the book also gives its name to the museum.

Since the novel and the museum are strongly connected teacher other, those who have already read the novel will much enjoy it. You can buy the entrance ticket at the entrance of the museum. But, there is a reader invitation on the closing page of the book. By clicking here, you can go to the official website of the museum.

VISITING DAYS AND HOURS

The museum is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 10.00-18.00. And on Thursday, you can visit the museum between 10:00 – 21:00. Museum of Innocence is not available for visiting on Mondays and on January 1st.

TICKETS

You can buy your tickets from the booth on the left-hand side of the entrance from Tuesday to Sunday between 10.00 – 17.30 (Thursday 20.30). As for group reservation, you should send an e-mail to info@masumiyetmuzesi.org.

LOCATION: Museum of Innocence 

Ticket Fees: Adults: 40 TL, Students: 30 TL