MEMED, MY HAWK

by Yashar Kamal ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 5, 1961

A sort of folk-hero adventure story is set in the mountains of Turkey. Although the period may well be modern, the world of little villages, cruel lords, bandits and hardworking peasants is semi-feudal, time-forgotten. A boy, Memed, lives with his mother in a village ruled by the cruel Agha. Overworked, he runs away and is brought back to face the Agha's punishment. At 18, Memed runs away again with his childhood sweetheart, Hatche, to keep her from a forced marriage to the Agha's nephew. They are pursued and Memed kills the nephew; Hatche is imprisoned; and Memed joins one of the many bandit-gangs that roam the countryside. After a remarkable forest battle, Memed proves his leadership, and later rescues Hatche. They lead a fugitive existence in caves, forests and the homes of a few friendly villagers. Hatche bears a son and is later killed. And over the years Memed becomes a legend, finally shoots the Agha and vanishes forever.... Although there is much real revolutionary anger behind all this, it also has a genuine story-telling charm and exotic flavor of a world of impersonal cruelties. On the whole, the book is a pleasure.

Pub Date: June 5, 1961

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Pantheon

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1961

Categories: FICTION