Best-selling Turkish novelist Elif Şafak talks to Ceyda Nurtsch at Qantara.de about everything from the ill health of Turkey's democracy to when she prefers writing in Turkish vs. in English (Lack of Democratic Culture in Turkey): Ceyda Nurtsch: You were one of the writers who signed a petition against the recent Twitter ban in Turkey. In … Continue reading Elif Şafak: Ballot-box Victory Is Not a License to Criminalize Criticism
Category: Altaic Peoples & Tales (阿尔泰各民族及其故事)
Chinese Authors in Turkish: Obligatory Pretty Face, Nobel Stamp of Approval
Since I arrived in Turkey in mid-June 2013 and resided in Ankara, Antalya and now Istanbul, I’ve seen 3—yes, 3—contemporary novels by Chinese authors in Turkish translation on bookstore shelves. Mind you, 2 of them I saw just a few weeks ago . . . and I go book-shopping at least once a week. They … Continue reading Chinese Authors in Turkish: Obligatory Pretty Face, Nobel Stamp of Approval
Elif Şafak’s New Novel: A Great Ottoman Architect, An Elephant and His Keeper
Dec 7 2014 update: Review of The Architect's Apprentice The author of eight novels including the best-selling and controversial Bastard of Istanbul, Elif Şafak, has just launched her ninth—Ustam ve Ben—in Turkish. The title literally means “My Master and I.” Curiously, though she wrote it in English, according to Sunday’s Zaman (Homage to Mimar Sinan) … Continue reading Elif Şafak’s New Novel: A Great Ottoman Architect, An Elephant and His Keeper
Jangar Culture & Arts Palace Opens in Xinjiang
(Posted: April 24, 2014) With the recent opening of the “Jangar Culture & Arts Palace” (江格尔文化艺术宫), China’s campaign to project itself as a nation with a rich multi-ethnic past and present continues apace. According to a report republished on the web site of the China Writers Association (建成投用), the building covers over 6,000 square meters … Continue reading Jangar Culture & Arts Palace Opens in Xinjiang
Wang Gang’s “Ingilizce” : Intriguing look at the Cultural Revolution for Turkish Readers
As China’s fiction “exports” pick up, it will be interesting to watch which novels and themes win an Exit Permit to foreign lands, and how they are received there. Take Wang Gang’s 《英格力士》, for instance. This semi-autobiographical novel set in Xinjiang during the Cultural Revolution was snapped up by Penguin, and rendered in English by … Continue reading Wang Gang’s “Ingilizce” : Intriguing look at the Cultural Revolution for Turkish Readers
Time to Open up the Orhan Pamuk/Mo Yan Monopoly to Competition?
At his press conference yesterday in Istanbul after a five-day stay in the city, Mo Yan called for the governments of China and Turkey to actively promote literary translation. “I could have [the] chance to read only the books of Orhan Pamuk as he was the only Turkish writer whose books have been translated into … Continue reading Time to Open up the Orhan Pamuk/Mo Yan Monopoly to Competition?
Excerpt: Uyghur Writer Alat Asem’s “Sidik Golden MobOff”
Here's an excerpt from my translation of Sidik Golden MobOff (《斯迪克金子关机》) by the bilingual Uyghur author, Alat Asem (阿拉提 · 阿斯木), that is published in full in Issue 14 of Chutzpah!: IN A WORLD of snow and ice, buses began to budge and Muslims began to discuss Sidik Golden MobOff in hushed tones. One comment reached … Continue reading Excerpt: Uyghur Writer Alat Asem’s “Sidik Golden MobOff”
“Manba Rasang” (满巴扎仓): Secret Mongolian Pharmacopoeia, Manchu Villains and a Stubborn Translator
The editor wanted to title the nouvella The Mongolian Pharmacist (蒙古药师), but Mongolian-to-Mandarin translator Hasen (哈森) resisted. After all, she argued, the setting for this new thriller was Manba Rasang Temple in 19th century Ordos. It served as a center for studies of ancient traditional medicine and treatment, and was frequented by Mongols, Tibetans, Manchus … Continue reading “Manba Rasang” (满巴扎仓): Secret Mongolian Pharmacopoeia, Manchu Villains and a Stubborn Translator
The 2013 Istanbul Book Fair, Xinjiang Connections and “English”
When Chinese author Wang Gang brought a smile to the faces of his Turkish listeners as he recounted how a musician back in Xinjiang had sung him a tune dubbed “Istanbul” just a few days ago, it’s unlikely few in the audience recognized the irony. After all, the theme of China’s presence at the 2013 … Continue reading The 2013 Istanbul Book Fair, Xinjiang Connections and “English”
Translation Crunch: Turkey Revs up for Role as Country of Honor at 2014 Beijing Book Fair
It has been officially announced that Turkey will be the Country of Honor at the 2014 Beijing Int’l Book Fair, as China was at the Istanbul In’tl Book Fair this year. A dearth of Turkish-to-Chinese translators means Turkish works like this one are often translated from the English. Which raises several questions: What contemporary works of … Continue reading Translation Crunch: Turkey Revs up for Role as Country of Honor at 2014 Beijing Book Fair
