The Prisoner of Ankara

An idealistic young man attempts to find his place in a changed world after incarceration, in this Turkish classic from the pioneering writer and activist, now available for the first time in English.

An idealistic young man attempts to find his place in a changed world after incarceration, in this Turkish classic from the pioneering writer and activist, now available for the first time in English.

Dreaming of a better life for her son, Vasfi's mother encourages him to attend medical school, so he can become a great doctor. But Vasfi's infatuation with the beguiling Zeynep, and his fiery temper, destroy this promising future in a night- Quarreling over Zeynep, he kills his cousin in a drunken brawl, and spends the next 12 years in prison.

After his release, he struggles to get by in a world that has moved on without him. He hardly recognizes Zeynep, now a bitter, tightfisted shop owner. Homeless and unable to find work in Ankara or Istanbul, he relies on the kindness of others- an old woman who offers him shelter, because he reminds her of her lost son; a friend from prison who secures him a job as a construction worker.

In this tragic yet vibrant portrait of a life derailed, Suat Dervis offers an insightful, deeply humane perspective on the margins of society.