--- title: Mustafa Kutlu slug: mustafa-kutlu-750825 url: /detay/mustafa-kutlu-750825 type: biography language: English entity: primary: Mustafa Kutlu type: biography disambiguation: Mustafa Kutlu: Celebrated Turkish novelist, essayist, & prominent figure in New Literature. Explore his life & works. categories: - name: General Knowledge slug: genel-kultur url: /kategori/genel-kultur - name: Literature slug: edebiyat url: /kategori/edebiyat tags: - Mustafa Kutlu - Biography author: Ömer Said Aydın created_at: 2025-03-24T11:52:45.807457+03:00 updated_at: 2025-04-17T10:38:04.060293+03:00 image: https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/03/24/6KzGJdhJQO3OLq5Rcl8NAfVFDSwqFSMy.jpg --- # Mustafa Kutlu > Mustafa Kutlu is a distinguished Turkish writer known for his short stories, which deeply explore the lives of Anatolian people and societal transformation processes. Born on March 6, 1947, in Erzincan, Kutlu has left a lasting impact in various fields, including literature, publishing, scriptwriting, and teaching. ## KURE Information Cards ### KURE Information Card: Mustafa Kutlu ![content_mustafa-kutlu-ile-mekanlari-gezmek_lCIG6_2.webp](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/03/24/Jwh2yGtNjRmQzxanDxXI5kFu4jvwgVV7.webp) | Field | Value | |-------|-------| | Born(Text) | 06 March 1947 | | Education | Ataturk University - Turkish Language and Literature Department | | Job | Writer | ## Article Content Mustafa [Kutlu](/en/detay/kutlu-751758/llms.txt) was born on [March](/en/detay/march/llms.txt) 6, 1947, in Kuruçay, a township in the Ilıç district of Erzincan. He was the third child of Nahiye Director Nurettin [Bey](/en/detay/bey-5/llms.txt) and Sulhiye Hanım. Known in Turkish literature as a storyteller, novelist, publisher, essayist, screenwriter, travel writer, sports columnist, journalist, painter, and teacher, Kutlu became a prominent figure in the New Literature movement within the Anatolia-Ottoman-Turkey framework from the last quarter of the 20th century onward. His works often depict the struggles of Anatolian people, social transformation processes, and the conflict between tradition and modernity, distinguished by his simple and fluent style. ### **Early Life and Education** Kutlu's childhood was spent in various cities due to his father’s profession. In 1953, upon Nurettin Bey’s retirement, the family settled in Erzincan. He completed his primary, secondary, and high school education there, graduating from Erzincan High School in 1964. The loss of his father during his middle school years left a deep mark on his life. After high school, he initially planned to study [at](/en/detay/at-3/llms.txt) the Fine Arts Academy in Istanbul to become a painter but later enrolled in Atatürk University’s Department of Turkish Language and Literature in [Erzurum](/en/detay/erzurum-2/llms.txt). He graduated in 1968, having been immersed in [an](/en/detay/an-2/llms.txt) environment rich in art and literature. Professor Ioanna Kuçuradi and two friends encouraged him to organize an art exhibition at Erzurum Public Education Hall. He developed his literary knowledge under the mentorship of scholars such as [Orhan](/en/detay/orhan/llms.txt) Okay, Kaya Bilgegil, Selahattin Olcay, Niyazi Akı, Haluk İpekten, Hüseyin Ayan, Bilge Seyidoğlu, and Muhan Bali. A pivotal [moment](/en/detay/moment-2/llms.txt) in his literary career was meeting [Ezel](/en/detay/ezel-2/llms.txt) Erverdi, the editor-in-chief of the [Hareket](/en/detay/hareket-3/llms.txt) magazine, in Orhan Okay’s office. ### **Beginning of Literary and Publishing Career** Kutlu entered the literary world in 1968 when his drawing appeared on the cover of the 28th issue of [Fikir](/en/detay/fikir/llms.txt) ve Sanatta Hareket magazine. The following issue, in [May](/en/detay/may-748395/llms.txt) 1968, published his first short story, "O." His university graduation thesis, "Plastic Elements in Sait Faik," was published by Hareket Publishing in 1968 under the title *The Story World of Sait Faik.* At Orhan Okay’s suggestion, he wrote a study on Sabahattin Ali, published in 1972 by the same publisher. In 1969, he married Sevgi Hanım, with whom he [had](/en/detay/had/llms.txt) two children. That same year, he was appointed as a literature teacher at Tunceli High School (1969-1972) and later taught at Istanbul [Vefa](/en/detay/vefa/llms.txt) [Poyraz](/en/detay/poyraz-2828e/llms.txt) High School (1972-1974). In 1974, he left teaching to work at [Dergâh](/en/detay/dergah/llms.txt) Publishing, marking a crucial shift in his literary career. Writing for *Fikir ve Sanatta Hareket* magazine, Kutlu became its editorial director from 1979 to 1982. His work also appeared in *Adımlar, Hisar, Türk Edebiyatı, Düşünce,* and *Yönelişler* magazines. From 1976, he contributed to the *Turkish Language and Literature Encyclopedia* and eventually took over as its editor-in-chief. From 1990 until January 2016, he served as the general editor of *Dergâh* magazine. ### **Literary Career and Style** Mustafa Kutlu's works focus on the daily lives of Anatolian people, social change, and the struggles of modernization. His first story collections, *Ortadaki Adam* (1970) and *Gönül İşi* (1974), reflect a romanticized view of Anatolia, influenced by Nurettin Topçu. In *Yokuşa Akan Sular* (1979), he developed a "river story" style inspired by classical Eastern narratives. This work presents a unique structure addressing industrialization and migration. *Yoksulluk İçimizde* (1981) explores the effects of capitalism through a Sufi-Islamic perspective and won the Turkish Writers' Union Storybook Award. *Ya Tahammül Ya Sefer* (1983), *Bu Böyledir* (1987), and *Sır* (1990) continued his "river story" approach, deepening his use of symbolism and Sufi themes. In the 2000s, Kutlu transitioned to writing longer stories with *Uzun Hikâye,* which won the Turkish Writers' Union Language Award and was adapted into a [film](/en/detay/film-5/llms.txt) by [Osman Sınav](/en/detay/osman-sinav-750104/llms.txt). His long-form narratives explore social change through the individual-society relationship, employing a simple, fluid style rooted in everyday language. His stories often revolve around villages, towns, childhood, love, and migration, successfully bridging [modern](/en/detay/modern-2/llms.txt) and traditional elements. ### **Other Works and Contributions** Beyond storytelling, Kutlu [has](/en/detay/has-3/llms.txt) written screenplays, adapting *Sleep* by Orhan Kemal and *Huzur* by Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar, as well as his works such as *Gönül İşi, Kapıları Açmak, Uzun Hikâye,* and *Mavi Kuş.* He began writing columns for *Yeni Şafak* in 1995, covering essays and sports articles. He also produced television programs such as *Monday Stories* on TRT2, *Istanbul Dervish Lodges* on Kanal 7, and *The Story of a Book: Poetry in the Museum* on TRT-1. His Istanbul-themed essays were published as *A Bunch of Istanbul* (1992) and *City Letters* (1993), focusing on topics like Istanbul, poverty, and Sufism. Currently residing in Istanbul, Kutlu continues to write for *Yeni Şafak* and *Dergâh.* He has played a significant role in shaping Turkish storytelling, influencing younger writers like Nazan Bekiroğlu and [Cihan](/en/detay/cihan-750234/llms.txt) Aktaş. ### **Awards** Kutlu received the Turkish Writers' Union Storybook Award in 1981 and 1983 and the Language Award in 2000. ### **Books** - Sait Faik’in Hikâye Dünyası (Sait Faik’s Story World) (Hareket Yayınları, 1968) - Study - Ortadaki Adam (The Man in the Middle) (Hareket Yayınları, 1970) - Story - Sabahattin Ali (Sabahattin Ali) (Hareket Yayınları, 1972) - Study - Gönül İşi (A Matter of the Heart) (Hareket Yayınları, 1974) - Story - Yokuşa Akan Sular (Waters Flowing Uphill) (Dergâh Yayınları, 1979) - Story - Yoksulluk İçimizde (Poverty Within Us) (Dergâh Yayınları, 1981) - Story - Ya Tahammül Ya Sefer (Either Endurance or Journey) (Dergâh Yayınları, 1983) - Story - Bu Böyledir (This Is How It Is) (Dergâh Yayınları, 1987) - Story - Sır (The Secret) (Dergâh Yayınları, 1990) - Story - Arkakapak Yazıları (Back Cover Writings) (Dergâh Yayınları, 1995) - Story - Şehir Mektupları (City Letters) (Dergâh Yayınları, 1995) - Essay - Hüzün ve Tesadüf (Melancholy and Coincidence) (Dergâh Yayınları, 1999) - Story - Akasya ve Mandolin (Acacia and Mandolin) (Dergâh Yayınları, 1999) - Essay - Uzun Hikâye (The Long Story) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2000) - Story - Beyhude Ömrüm (My Futile Life) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2001) - Story - Mavi Kuş (Blue Bird) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2002) - Story - Tufandan Önce (Before the Flood) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2003) - Story - Rüzgârlı Pazar (Windy Market) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2004) - Story - Yoksulluk Kitabı (The Book of Poverty) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2004) - Essay - Yıldız Tozu (Stardust) (Erdem Yayınları, 2004) - Children’s Book - Chef (Chef) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2005) - Story - Menekşeli Mektup (Violet Letter) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2006) - Story - Kapıları Açmak (Opening the Doors) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2007) - Story - Huzursuz Bacak (Restless Leg) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2008) - Story - Tahir Sami Bey’in Özel Hayatı (The Private Life of Tahir Sami Bey) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2009) - Story - Zafer Yahut Hiç (Victory or Nothing) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2010) - Story - Hayat Güzeldir (Life Is Beautiful) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2011) - Story - Anadolu Yakası (Anatolian Side) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2012) - Story - Sıradışı Bir Ödül Töreni (An Extraordinary Award Ceremony) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2013) - Story - Nur (Nur) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2014) - Story - Vatan Yahut İnternet (Homeland or Internet) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2014) - Essay - Dem Bu Demdir (This Moment Is the Moment) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2014) - Essay - Tirende Bir Keman (A Violin on the Train) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2015) - Story - Hesap Günü (Judgment Day) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2015) - Story - Vitrinde Olmak (Being on Display) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2015) - Essay - İyiler Ölmez (The Good Don’t Die) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2016) - Story - Tarla Kuşunun Sesi (The Voice of the Field Bird) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2018) - Story - İlmihal Yahut Arzuhal (Catechism or Petition) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2018) - Essay - Fırtınayı Kucaklamak (Embracing the Storm) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2019) - Essay - Kalbin Sesi ile Toprağa Dönüş (Return to the Soil with the Voice of the Heart) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2020) - Essay - Akıntıya Karşı (Against the Current) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2021) - Essay - Selâm Olsun (Greetings) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2021) - Essay - Topkapı’dan Topkapı’ya (From Topkapı to Topkapı) (Dergâh Yayınları, 2021) - Travel ## Academic Sources and References 1. Kitaphaber. Mustafa Kutlu ile Mekânları Gezmek. Erişim tarihi 22 Mart 2025. https://www.kitaphaber.com.tr/mustafa-kutlu-ile-mekanlari-gezmek-k6061.html.Türkiye Yazarlar Birliği. TYB Erzincan Şubesi’nde Konuşan Mustafa Kutlu: "Yazdıklarım Yerli ve Milli". Erişim tarihi 22 Mart 2025. https://www.tyb.org.tr/tyb-erzincan-subesinde-konusan-mustafa-kutlu-yazdiklarim-yerli-ve-milli-56617h.htm.Anadolu Mektebi. Mustafa Kutlu. Erişim tarihi 22 Mart 2025. https://www.anadolumektebi.org/tr/icerik/mustafa-kutlu/1591361309165.Dergâh Yayınları. Mustafa Kutlu. Erişim tarihi 22 Mart 2025. https://www.dergah.com.tr/yazarlar/mustafa-kutlu.Türkiye Edebiyat İsimleri Sözlüğü. Kutlu, Mustafa. Erişim tarihi 22 Mart 2025. https://teis.yesevi.edu.tr/madde-detay/kutlu-mustafa.