Yunus Emre InstituteOn a quiet Friday evening, the ground floor of Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London transformed into a space of warmth, memory, and literary reflection as readers gathered for the latest session of Turkish Bookshelf, the Institute’s monthly book club dedicated to Türkiye’s literary heritage in English translation.
With Turkish tea in hand and the scent of biscuits in the air, participants came together to discuss Madonna in a Fur Coat by Sabahattin Ali, a timeless classic that continues to captivate readers with its tender portrayal of love, longing, and quiet despair. Translated into English, the novel has become an essential entry point for global readers seeking to understand the emotional and philosophical depth of 20th-century Turkish literature.
This month’s gathering, held from 6:30 to 8:30 PM on the first Friday of May, marked yet another step in the club’s journey through Türkiye’s literary landscape—one novel at a time, one conversation at a time.
The evening began with a short introduction to the life and legacy of Sabahattin Ali, whose poetic voice and political conscience shaped a generation of Turkish writing. Often hailed as one of the most powerful short story writers of his era, Ali’s ability to render emotional intimacy against broader social currents was a focal point of discussion. His tragic life, marked by exile and eventual disappearance, added a poignant layer to the evening’s reflections.
Guided by a skilled moderator, the conversation flowed effortlessly between close readings, personal impressions, and broader questions about language, identity, and cultural translation. Though not all participants had finished the book, the discussion remained open and welcoming, encouraging both first-time readers and seasoned literary explorers to share in the atmosphere of collective inquiry.
Beyond the pages of the novel, Turkish Bookshelf served as a gentle reminder of the power of literature to connect lives across time and space—to transform a quiet Friday evening into a shared meditation on what it means to love, to remember, and to belong.
At its heart, Turkish Bookshelf is not just about reading—it is about listening. To stories, to one another, and to the echoes of a literary tradition that continues to speak across borders and generations.