Ilgaz started writing poetry during his junior school years and evolved into one of the prolific social-realist writers of 20th century Turkish literature. His poems are considered prime examples of socialist-realistic writing. While he has never really been a partisan of political ideologies, the fact that he has written about the sufferings of the people placed him at a left wing perspective. Like other writers of his time, Ilgaz was imprisoned as a result of one of his publications.
In addition to his writing, he led an accomplished career as a lecturer in Turkish literature.
In 2001, Fourth Company was published, which is a compilation of English translations of some of Ilgaz's short stories. It was published as a series of dual language books and audio cassettes. Aimed at teenagers and adults, each title features selected short stories by the Turkish author.[1]
Rıfat Ilgaz died in Istanbul in 1993 due to lung failure.
[edit] Selected works
Apartıman Çocukları
Bacaksız Okulda
Bacaksız Plajda
Cart Curt
Çalış Osman Çiftlik Senin
Devam
Don Kişot Istanbul'da
Garibin Horozu
Geçmişe Mazi
Güvercinim Uyur mu?
Hababam Sınıfı (1975) (made into a movie)[2]
Hababam Sınıfı Sınıfta Kaldı (1975) (made into a movie)[3]
Hababam Sınıfı Baskında (made into a movie)
Hababam Sınıfı İcraatın İçinde
Hababam Sınıfı Uyanıyor
Hoca Nasrettin Ve Çömezleri
Karadeniz'in Kıyıcığında
Karartma Geceleri (1990) (made into a movie)[4]
Kırk Yıl Once Kırk Yıl Sonra
Kulağımız Kirişte
Nerde Kalmıştık
Nerde O Eski Usturalar
Ocak Katırı Alagöz
Öksüz Civciv
Pijamalılar
Radarın Anahtarı
Rüşvetin Alamancası
Sarı Yazma
Sınıf
Soluk Soluğa/Karakılçık/Uzak Değil
Sosyal Kadınlar Partisi
Şeker Kutusu
Üsküdar'da Sabah Oldu
Yarenlik
Yaşadıkça
Yıldız Karayel
Yokuş Yukarı
[edit]