Kaya Genç

The 8th Lahore Literary Festival, hosted in Pakistan's second-largest city, kicked off on Feb. 21 with special guest Orhan Pamuk, Turkey's only Nobel laureate in literature.

Speaking to journalist Ahmed Rashid at the festival, considered one of South Asia's premier cultural events, Pamuk expressed his love for his hometown Istanbul, Turkey's largest city.

Turkey's feverish news agenda shifts so rapidly that it can induce vertigo among locals. Citizens face a truly daunting set of challenges - economic strife, hydra-headed terrorism, authoritarianism, and politics as a grim culture war. 

Istanbul has always been a rich source of inspiration and a new book (reviewed in HDN here) gives a taste of writing about the city by classic names including Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, and Lady Mary Wortley Montagu.

The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (?KSV) has introduced a translation award in honor of Talât Sait Halman, who died last year, to support outstanding translations of literary works, including but not limited to poetry, short stories and novels. 

Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (?KSV) has introduced an award to support outstanding translations of literary works, including but not limited to poetry, short stories and novels, in honor of Turkey?s first minister of culture.