Istanbul’s Black Week literary festival to host famous crime fiction authors

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

Istanbul’s fourth Black Week literary festival, which hosts well-known names of detective novels every year, will be held on Nov. 23 and Nov. 24 at the Pera Palace Hotel. The theme of this year’s festival is the character of “Mike Hammer.”

In the past, detective novels were considered second class literature in Turkey but this genre has made a lot of progress said author Ahmet Ümit, head of the festival committee, at a press conference.

Adnan Özer, a festival committee member, said Agatha Christie was the theme of the first festival. 

“Famous writer Georges Simenon and Ian Fleming, a popular name in criminal literature and the creator of James Bond, were chosen in the next two festivals,” said Özer. 

He said detective literature and film were two branches close to each other. 

“Atilla Dorsay, a notable name who is interested in both cinema and detectives, will be the guest of our festival this year. He will tell us about detective films and Mike Hammer,” said the festival committee member. 

The opening of the festival will be held on Nov. 19 and an award will be presented to author Senay Haznedaroğlu. 

International crime fiction authors Wolfgang Schorlau and B.A. Paris and Turkish crime fiction authors Ahmet Ümit, Armağan Tunaboylu, Celil Oker, Erol Üyepazarcı, Sevin Okyay, Taner Ay and İskender Pala will be attending the festival. 

The two-day festival will present seven conferences for free.