Madam Ataturk: The First Lady of Modern Turkey

(Paperback)

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Description

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is hailed as one of the most charismatic political leaders of the twentieth century, but little is known today about his one and only wife, Latife Hanim. A multilingual intellectual educated at the Sorbonne, Latife's marriage to Ataturk in 1923 raised her to the pinnacle of political power. Hanim played a central role in the creation of a modern and secular Turkey and championed the emancipation of women. Throughout her marriage, she stood beside her husband, and acted as his interpreter, promoter and diplomatic aide. However, after only two years of marriage, Ataturk divorced Latife, who was shunned and blamed for the failure of the marriage. She spent the rest of her life in seclusion. An international bestseller, this intimate biography vividly brings to life the story of an exceptional and courageous woman, well ahead of her time, who lived through a remarkable period in Turkish history.

Reviews

`Rich, surprising and profound' Orhan Pamuk; `A daring biography' Independent; `Latife played a pivotal role in shaping the new Turkey - an acknowledgement of her contribution is long overdue.' New Internationalist; `This fascinating retelling highlights an important moment in the struggle for women's suffrage ... Poignant' The Lady; `A shining example of how history can and should be written' The Jordan Times

Author Bio

Ipek Calislar is a veteran journalist and writer. She has worked at the prestigious daily Cumhuriyet for twelve years and has served on the boards of KA-DER and PEN Turkey. Calislar was tried in Turkey for `insulting the memory of Kemal Ataturk' with this biography, but was later acquitted. Madam Ataturk is a bestseller in Turkey and has been translated into eleven languages.