Memed, My Hawk (1955) by Yashar Kemal is the first in the Ince Memed series, a coming-of-age epic about a boy’s rebellion against the tyrannical landlord Agha Abdi in rural Anatolia. Translated into English in 1961, the novel follows Memed from his youth, when he escapes abuse only to return out of guilt for his mother, through his later years as an outlaw and brigand leader fighting for freedom. Supported by his mother and lover Hatche—both of whom suffer greatly for his defiance—Memed battles oppression, endures tragedy, and seeks justice. Kemal, a Kurdish-Turkish writer and human rights activist, became one of Turkey’s most celebrated authors, earning international acclaim and numerous awards.
0