CUMALI, NECATI

born 1921, Flrina, Greece Turkish writer and translator whose notable contributions to his native literature include poetry, short fiction, essays, and plays. He was one of the best-known Turkish writers of the 20th century. At the age of 18 Cumali began publishing poetry. After graduating from what is now Ankara (Turkey) University in 1941, he held a variety of jobs and practiced law from 1950 to 1957. In 1959 he became a professional writer. Cumali's first book of poetry was Kizilullu yolu (1943; The Road to Kizilullu), and he wrote several more volumes of poetry before he began to publish fiction. His collected poetry appears in A gnes (1980; Hungry Sun), which was later enlarged and published as Tufandan nce (1983; Before the Deluge). His first published fiction was the short-story collection Yalniz kadin (1955; Woman Alone), and his first play was Bos Besik (1949; Empty Cradle; filmed 1952), a retelling of the traditional story of an infant lost by nomads. Cumali's concerns were wide-ranging; he wrote of the hardships of rural life, of Turkish history and cultural traditions, and of urban existence. One of his best-known stories is Susuz Yaz (1962; published as Dry Summer in Modern Turkish Drama; filmed 1963), a tragedy of an unfaithful wife, her husband, and his two-faced brother. Cumali adapted the story into a play that was produced in 1968. His later plays include Nalinlar (1962; The Clogs) and Derya Gl (1963; Sea Rose).