Attila İlhan

Attila İlhan — Biography

Attilâ İlhan, in full Attilâ Hamdi İlhan (15 June 1925, Menemen, İzmir – 10 October 2005, Istanbul), was a Turkish poet, novelist, essayist, journalist, screenwriter and critic. He attended İzmir Atatürk High School, Işık Lisesi and Balıkesir Lisesi before studying at the Faculty of Law of Istanbul University. He later lived for a time in Paris, where he was deeply influenced by the city's intellectual circles.

A prolific and versatile writer across poetry, the novel and the essay, İlhan became one of the leading figures of modern Turkish literature and was also known for his outspoken critiques of Turkish cultural and intellectual life. He appeared on television programs as a commentator on literary and social issues, and several of his novels were adapted for film and television, with İlhan writing many of the screenplays himself. He was awarded the title of State Artist in 1991 and received honors including the Yunus Nadi Prize and the Turkish Language Association Poetry Award. Brother of actress Çolpan İlhan and husband of Biket İlhan, he is commemorated through the Attilâ İlhan Literature Awards, which have continued to be presented annually since his death.