“Erzurum Şairleri” (Erzurum Poets) is a biographical and literary study authored by Hasan Ali Kasır and published by Dergâh Yayınları as part of its “Erzurum Library” series. The book focuses on poets who were born in, lived in, or later settled in the city of Erzurum. The work aims to demonstrate how the cultural heritage, developed over Erzurum's long history, is expressed through the medium of poetry. First published in August 1999, the book comprises 585 pages and saw its second edition in May 2018.

Content and Thematic Structure

The book “Erzurum Şairleri” begins with an introduction that defines Erzurum in its historical and cultural aspects, presenting a framework through which the city's deep-rooted past and cultural identity can be traced through its poetry. The book collectively evaluates the biographies and literary orientations of poets who were born in, lived in, or subsequently settled in the city.

In his study, Hasan Ali Kasır provides detailed information on the poets' life stories, literary personae, and works. Each poet's biography, education, literary circle, poetic philosophy, and the prominent aspects of their works are examined in depth. Furthermore, the study analyzes the poets' stances on historical and social developments, the literary movements that influenced them, and their linguistic and stylistic preferences.

The work does not exclusively feature well-known poets; it also includes figures who, despite remaining at a local level, possess significant literary merit. In this respect, it contributes to the documentation of regional literary heritage across a broad spectrum. The influence of Erzurum’s geographical and cultural characteristics on the poets' creative output is implicitly addressed, drawing attention to the reflections of folk culture, belief systems, lifestyles, and local identity elements in their poetry.

According to the publisher's assessment, this study has the potential to fill a significant gap in the literature, not only within the specific context of Erzurum but also for Turkish literary studies in general. In this context, the work serves as a valuable resource for research on both local and national literary history.

Language and Style

Hasan Ali Kasır's “Erzurum Şairleri” is written with a commitment to academic consistency and objectivity. The author presents his biographical and literary analyses in a systematic and explanatory manner. The text refrains from personal judgments in its assessments and interpretations, relying instead on data established through scholarly methods. While the language and expression are accessible to researchers, the work meets academic standards in terms of its informational density.

The Author's Position and the Significance of the Work

Hasan Ali Kasır is a researcher known for his studies on the cultural and literary history of Erzurum. This work offers a significant contribution to the field of biographical compilations within the scope of local literary historiography.

“Erzurum Şairleri” serves as a reference work that comprehensively documents Erzurum's literary heritage and examines the lives and artistic productions of many poets within a scholarly framework. The book provides data for researchers, academics, and graduate students working on urban literature, literary history, biography, local culture, and folklore. Moreover, it can be considered a methodological example of how literary and cultural memory is constructed through the lens of a single city.