First Translator of Joyce’s Ulysses into Turkish Nevzat Erkmen Dies of Covid-19

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Writer and translator Nevzat Erkmen, the first translator of James Joyce's Ulysses into Turkish, lost his life due to Covid-19 yesterday (April 15).

Among the translations of Erkmen were also the books of Carlos Castaneda and Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac.

The founder of the Puzzle Club of Turkey, he was also the World Puzzle Federation's Representative to Turkey.

In memory of Erkmen, Doğan Publishing Editor-in-Chief Cem Erciyes has shared the following message on his social media account:

'A person of books from another time'

"Nevzat Erkmen was one of the most interesting personalities that the literary world has ever seen. He established a beverage factory in Turkey and was an executive at Schweppes. Then, he abandoned everything and turned to publishing and translation.

"He made a name for himself by achieving the impossible with his translation of Ulysses as part of YKY Kazım Taşkent series. He was an active member of the international James Joyce community all through his life. In the office of his Söz publishing in Taksim, he would prepare crosswords and brain teasers on the one side and do translations on the other.

"He published the books of unique writers like Carlos Castaneda. He would play the piano in the corner when he got bored. I will always remember him as a person who has a million interests, who is energetic and a person of books from another time. May his soul rest in peace."

Statement by PEN Turkey

In a statement released by the PEN Turkey Center's Executive Board, it has been indicated that "Nevzat Erkmen has joined the ones who live with their works." Noting that Erkmen raised several translators in PEN Turkey Translation Workshop, PEN Turkey has stressed that "the light" of Erkmen "will always stay with us." The Board has also expressed its condolences to Erkmen's all loved ones, relatives and students.

About Nevzat Erkmen

Nevzat Erkmen was born in the Aegean province of İzmir in 1931. He graduated from the Academy of Economic and Commercial Sciences. Granted a scholarship by the Ministry of National Education, he did his Master's and PhD degrees in the field of pedagogy at New York University. He was a manager or executive board member in several companies.

In 1980, he was the editor of "Mind Games" column on Cumhuriyet newspaper. He was the founding member of the World Puzzle Federation and its representative to Turkey. In 1995, he founded the Puzzle Club of Turkey and ranked third in Berlin Olympics where he represented Turkey.

In 1983, he established the Söz Publishing Puzzle Agency (www.sözyayin.com). With his translation from James Joyce's Ulysses (YKY, 1996), he was accepted to the membership of the International James Joyce Foundation. He was awarded with a letter by the President of Ireland.

He was also awarded the Best Translator of the Year Award by the Turkish Publishers Association and the Translation Award by Nokta magazine in 1996. He attended the Bloomsday events organized by James Joyce Center in Dublin in 1998. (AÖ/SD)