Selim İleri, writer, passed away at the age of 75 in the hospital where he was receiving treatment. The masterful writer, who produced works across various literary genres, including novels, short stories, poetry, essays, plays, and critiques, had been facing health issues for some time.
Born in Istanbul in 1949, Selim İleri spent his childhood and youth in Kadıköy. His name (Selim), inspired by the Ottoman Sultan Selim I, seemed to symbolize his connection with history and literature. While he was studying at Atatürk Boys’ High School, his teachers Vedat Günyol and Rauf Mutluay noticed his interest in literature and encouraged this interest.
After completing his high school education, İleri studied at Istanbul University Faculty of Law, and soon gave up law and devoted all his energy to literature. His first storybook, titled Cumartesi Yalnızlığı (Boundless Solitude), which he published when he was only 19 years old, attracted attention in the literary world despite his young age. This work gained a unique place with its treatment of individuals’ spiritual dissolution and lack of communication.
From Novels to Essays
Throughout his literary life, Selim İleri dealt with the inner world of the individual, social conflicts, and political themes in a detailed style. While the theme of individual lack of communication stood out in his early works, he gave greater space to social dynamics in the works he wrote in the 1970s. In his novels and stories, he masterfully addressed loneliness, emotional fragility, and the complexity of human relationships.
Not only limited to novels and stories in his literary career, Selim İleri was recognized as a productive writer in different genres such as essays, criticism, screenplays, and reviews. In 1979, İleri managed the art page of Dünya (World) newspaper and later continued his work in Argos magazine. His writings were published in many newspapers and magazines and left deep traces in Turkish literature.
In 1971, he started writing scripts at Halit Refiğ’s suggestion. After his first script, Cennetin Kapısı (The Gate of Heaven), he wrote nearly twenty scripts, such as Günahsızlar (Innocents), Yararlı Kurt (Wounded Wolf), Bir Demet Menekşe (A Bunch of Violets), Seni Kalbime Gömdüm (Buried You in My Heart), and Göl (The Lake). In 1982, the Cinema Writers Association awarded him the Best Screenplay of the Year award for his only published screenplay, Kırık Bir Aşk Hikâyesi (A Broken Love Story).
Contributions to the World of Art and Literature
Selim İleri made unforgettable contributions to modern Turkish literature by keenly observing the details of individual and social life in his works. He established a unique literary path by weaving the stories of notable figures from recent history into his narratives. His writings across various literary genres demonstrate that he is a versatile artist.
