Gabuyd Luys (Hagop Mntsuri, 1968)
Name/Title
Gabuyd Luys (Hagop Mntsuri, 1968)Description
Hagop Mntsuri (1886–1978) was an Armenian-Turkish writer born in Armutlu, a village near Erzincan, Turkey. He attended Galata Getronagan Primary School and Robert College in Istanbul, where he was influenced by prominent Armenian intellectuals such as Keğam Parseghian and Zabel Esayan. Mıntzuri’s literary work is renowned for vividly depicting the multicultural social fabric of the late Ottoman Empire, focusing on the daily lives of Armenians, Turks, Kurds, and Alevis. His narratives often center on his native village, Armutlu, capturing the essence of rural life and the interactions among diverse communities. During World War I, Mıntzuri was conscripted into the Ottoman army and stationed in Istanbul. Tragically, in 1915, his family was deported and perished during the Armenian Genocide. This profound loss deeply influenced his writings, leading him to chronicle the memories of his lost homeland and its people. Some of his notable works include “İstanbul Anıları 1897-1940” (Memories of Istanbul 1897-1940), “Armıdan Fırat’ın Öte Yanı” (Armıdan, the Other Side of the Euphrates), and “Kapandı Kirve Kapıları” (The Gates of the Friends are Closed). These works have been translated from Armenian into Turkish, reflecting the multicultural social structure of his time. Mıntzuri’s writings serve as a bridge between the past and present, offering invaluable insights into the cosmopolitan memory of Istanbul and the diverse communities that once coexisted there.Category
Books