Nazlı Eray, born in Ankara in 1945, has established a distinctive place in contemporary Turkish literature through her short stories and novels. Eray, who entered literary life at a young age, is noted for her narrative that blends imaginative elements with reality and for the (auto)biographical reflections in her work. Recognized both nationally and internationally through her works translated into numerous languages, she continues her literary career with productivity across multiple genres.

Childhood and Education

Childhood and Youth

Nazlı Eray was born on 28 June 1945 in Ankara as the daughter of Şermin Hanım and Lütfullah Bütün, a member of the Constitutional Court and Director of Foreign Affairs at Türkiye İş Bankası. She spent her childhood in Ankara and Istanbul. The people she met during her time at Saadet Apartmanı later became subjects of some of her short stories.

Educational Background

She graduated from the English Girls’ Middle School in 1958 and from Arnavutköy American College for Girls in 1962. She then enrolled at Istanbul University Faculty of Law but left before completing her studies. Shortly afterward, she transferred to the Philosophy Department of the Faculty of Letters but also abandoned this program before graduation. She did not complete her higher education.

Career and Achievements

Career Path

Eray began writing during her middle school years; her stories “Kar” and “Sonsuzluğun Çocuğu” were noted by her teachers. She entered the literary world in 1959 while still a high school student, with her story “Mösyö Hristo” published in the magazine Varlık. Between 1965 and 1968, she worked as a translator at the Ministry of Tourism and Promotion in Ankara. In 1967, she married Erses Eray and gave birth to twin daughters. In 1971, she underwent treatment in hospitals in Türkiye and England for two and a half years due to intestinal obstruction. This period marked a new beginning in her writing career.

Notable Achievements

In 1976, with the support of Attilâ İlhan, her first short story collection, Ah Bayım Ah, was published. In 1977, she was invited as a visiting writer to the University of Iowa in the United States, where she taught courses in Creative Writing. Her 1987 book Yoldan Geçen Öyküler was recognized with the Haldun Taner Short Story Award. In 2002, her novel Aşkı Giyinen Adam won the Yunus Nadi Literature Award.

Key Works and Contributions

Contributions

In Nazlı Eray’s literature, reality and imaginative elements coexist. Her works are distinguished by fantastical and fairy-tale-like features. Her writing draws influences from diverse disciplines such as theater, cinema, and travel impressions. (Auto)biographical elements are strongly present in her works.

Selected Works and Projects

Short story collections: Kız Öpme Kuyruğu (1982), Hazır Dünya (1983), Eski Gece Parçaları (1986), Yoldan Geçen Öyküler (1987), Aşk Artık Burada Oturmuyor (1989).

Novels: Pasifik Günleri (1980), Orphée (1983), Deniz Kenarında Pazartesi (1984), Arzu Sapağında İnecek Var (1990), Ay Falcısı (1992), Yıldızlar Mektup Yazar (1993), Uyku İstasyonu (1994), Aşık Papağan Barı (1995), İmparator Çay Bahçesi (1997), Örümceğin Kitabı (1998), Elyazması Rüyalar (1999), Ayışığı Sofrası (2000), Aşkı Giyinen Adam (2002), S/S Kelebekleri (2003).

Plays: Erostratus (1985), Kış Kafesindeki Tenor (1996).

Essay: Düş İşleri Bülteni (1994).

Personal Life

Private Life

In 1967, she married Erses Eray and had twin daughters. In 1990, she married Metin And. Her marriages and personal life have been reflected autobiographically in some of her novels.

Later Years

From the 1990s onward, Eray continued producing works, particularly in the novel genre, sustaining her literary career. Her writings have appeared in various newspapers and magazines, and her works have been included in middle school textbooks.

Impact

Translations of Eray’s short stories have been published in German, French, Hindi, Japanese, English, Italian, Urdu, and Czech, among other languages. This demonstrates the international reach of her work.