Istanbul Was a Fairy Tale

Lecture

Istanbul Was a Fairy Tale

Date: Tue, May 24, 2016 06:30PM - Tue, May 24, 2016 08:30PM
Price: $10, $8 Friends/seniors, students free

In this illustrated talk, modern novelist Mario Levi tells the stories of three generations of a Turkish-Jewish family in 20th-century Istanbul. Based on a novel with the same title, Istanbul Was a Fairytale explores the complex histories of Istanbul through its characters, while revealing the city as a dynamic character itself.

Born in 1957 in Istanbul, Mario Levi is revered as one of the most important modern novelists of Turkish literature. His lyrical prose tends be filled with allusions to his previous work, and seeks to illustrate the experience of living in Istanbul. In addition to writing, Mario also has experience in teaching, journalism, and radio programming. He is currently a lecturer at Yeditepe University, and teaches creative writing to help people express their thoughts.

Co-sponsored by the Turkish Consolate

Detail of “Wooden houses of Istanbul”
Guillaume Berggren, ca. 1885

Collodion print mounted on board

Ömer M. Koç, Private Collection

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