Orhan Pamuk Biography

Orhan Pamuk is a renowned Turkish novelist, screenwriter, and academic who was born and brought up in Istanbul, Turkey. He is the recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature. One of Turkey’s most prominent novelists, his work has sold over thirteen million books in sixty-three languages, making him the country’s best-selling writer.

Orhan Pamuk Age

Orhan is 69 years old as of 2021, he was born Ferit Orhan Pamuk on June 7, 1952, in Istanbul, Turkey. He celebrates his birthday on June 7, every year and his birth sign is Gemini.

Orhan Pamuk Height

Orhan stands at a height of 5 feet 8 inches (177 cm, 1.77 meters). However, details regarding his other body measurements are currently not publicly available. We will update this section when the information is available.

Orhan Pamuk Weight

Orhan Weighs 78 kilograms (170 Ibs) in 2021. Known for his captivating personality, Orhan has brown eyes and his hair color is grey.

Orhan Pamuk Education

Orhan is a highly educated and qualified person. He attended Robert College, an American school in Istanbul, and went on to study architecture at Istanbul Technical University.

After three years he dropped out and dedicated himself full-time to writing. In 1977 he graduated from the University of Istanbul with a degree in journalism. From 1985 until 1988 he lived in the United States and was a visiting scholar at Columbia University in New York and the University of Iowa.

Orhan Pamuk Family

Orhan’s elder brother Ševket Pamuk, who sometimes appears as a fictional character in the work of Pamuk, is an economics professor, internationally recognized for his work in the Ottoman Empire’s economics history, working at Istanbul’s Bogazici University. Pamuk also has a younger half-sister, a journalist, Hümeyra Pamuk.

Orhan Pamuk Wife

Orhan married a historian, Aylin Türegün, on March 1, 1982. From 1985 until 1988, while his spouse was a graduate student at Columbia University, he took up the position of visiting scholar there, taking the time to perform studies and writing his novel The Black Book in the Butler Library of the university.

This period also included a University of Iowa visiting fellowship. Orhan returned to Istanbul, a heavily connected town. He and his wife had a daughter named Rüya (born in 1991), whose name in Turkish means “dream.” They’ve been divorced in 2001.

Orhan returned to the U.S. in 2006 to take up a place as a visiting professor at Columbia, where he was a fellow with Columbia’s Global Thought Committee and kept an appointment at the Middle East and Asian Languages and Cultures Department of Columbia and its School of the Arts.

Orhan returned to Columbia in the academic year 2007–2008 to teach comparative literature courses together with Andreas Huyssen and David Damrosch. He was also a Bard College writer-in-residence. He was Charles Eliot Norton Lecturer of Harvard in the autumn of 2009, giving a series of lectures entitled “The Naive and Sentimental Novelist.”

Orhan openly recognized his connection with Kiran Desai, an Indian-born booker prize winner. In January 2011, Turkish-Armenian artist Karolin Fişekçi informed Hürriyet Daily News that during the same moment (2010–12), he had a two-and-a-half-year partnership with her, a declaration that Pamuk explicitly denied.

Schama cites Orhan’s wife Asli in an interview with Simon Schama released in the Financial Times on August 16, 2013. It is believed that Aslı Akyavaş is his present wife.

Orhan Pamuk Net Worth

Orhan’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million dollars (Approx) as of 2021. This includes his assets, money, and income. His primary source of income is his career as a Novelist. Through his various sources of income, he has been able to accumulate a good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.

Orhan Pamuk Measurements and Facts

Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Orhan.

Orhan Pamuk Wiki

• Full Names: Ferit Orhan Pamuk.
• Popular As: Orhan Pamuk.
• Gender: Male.
• Occupation / Profession: Novelist.
• Nationality: Turkish.
• Race / Ethnicity: White.
• Religion: Christian.
• Sexual Orientation: Straight.

Orhan Pamuk Birthday

• Age / How Old?: 69 Years Old.
• Zodiac Sign: Gemini.
• Date of Birth: June 7, 1952.
• Place of Birth: Istanbul, Turkey.
• Birthday: June 7th.

Orhan Pamuk Body Measurements

• Body Measurements: Pending Update.
• Height / How Tall?: 5 feet 8 inches (177 cm, 1.77 meters).
• Weight: 78 kilograms (170 Ibs) in 2021.
• Eye Color: Brown.
• Hair Color: Grey.
• Shoe Size: Pending Update.

Orhan Pamuk Family and Relationship

• Father (Dad): Pending Update.
• Mother: Pending Update.
• Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Hümeyra Pamuk.
• Marital Status: Married.
• Wife/Spouse: Married to Aslı Akyavaş.
• Dating / Girlfriend: Not Applicable.
• Children: Daughter (Rüya).

Orhan Pamuk Net Worth and Salary

• Net Worth: $1 million and $5 million dollars (Approx) as of 2021.
• Salary: Pending Update.
• Source of Income: Career as a Novelist.

Orhan Pamuk Career

Orhan’s first book, ‘Darkness and Light’ went on to become a co-winner of the 1979 Milliyet Press Novel Contest, together with Mehmet Eroglu. He won a number of important prizes for his early work, which prompted him to write more.

Orhan authored the historical book, ‘The White Castle’ in 1985, which also received various awards. His reputation started to soar around this time and continued beyond the geographical boundaries of Turkey.

In 1990, Orhan authored ‘The Black Book’, which became one of the most common yet the most provocative reads at the time. Following the success of this book, he went on to write the screenplay for the film, ‘Secret Face’, based on this novel. By this time, he had already become a high-profile celebrity in Turkey.

In 1995, Orhan published his book of essays, titled, ‘Other Colors’ which augmented his global reputation. It sky-rocketed even more with the publication of ‘My Name is Red’, which is also considered to be one of his greatest works.

One book after another, Orhan was getting enormous demand, which increased manifold with the publication of ‘Snow’ in 2002. Around this time, he also started to dabble with writing memoirs and travelogues and produced ‘Istanbul-Memories and the City in 2005.

In 2005, Orhan made a statement about the Armenian Genocide, for which he was prosecuted. Although the charges were dropped on January 22, 2006, angry demonstrators and large mobs threatened to kill him and many of his works were even burnt.

In 2007, Orhan was invited to be one of the jury members at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2008, he finished his book, The Museum of Innocence it was the first novel he published after receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2006.

In 2008, Orhan went to the United States to teach comparative literature at the University of Columbia. He was also a writer-in-residence at Bard College around the same time.

Despite the case being dropped, Orhanwas convicted for insulting the honor of his people and the people of Armenia when he commented on the Armenian Genocide and finally, had to pay a fine of 6,000 liras on March 27, 2011.

Although Orhan was both feted and attacked for his works in Turkey, he continued to write and managed to retain popularity through his writings across the globe. ‘Yeni Hayat’, translated as ‘The New Life’ in English, was one of Pamuk’s best-sellers and was published in 1994.

It has been rated as one of his most ‘poignant’ works and sold over 2,00,000 copies in the first week of its publication.
‘My Name is Red’ is a blend of mystery, romance, and philosophy and is set in 16th century Istanbul. The book has been translated into three different languages and has also been the recipient of a number of lucrative awards.

Orhan Pamuk Trial

After Orhan made a declaration about the Armenian Genocide and mass murders of Kurds in 2005, a criminal case against the author was launched on the basis of a complaint lodged by ultra-nationalist lawyer Kemal Kerinçsiz. On January 22, 2006, the charges were dropped.

His books were burned in a nationalist rally in Bilecik. Orhan subsequently indicated that he intended to draw attention to problems relating to the liberty of expression. Nevertheless, Kemal Kerinçsiz, the lawyer who initially lodged charges against Pamuk, appealed to the Supreme Court of Appeal, which ordered the court to reopen the case in Sisli.

Orhan was discovered guilty on March 27, 2011, and ordered to pay a complete compensation of 6,000 liras to five individuals for, among others, having insulted their honor.

Orhan Pamuk Statements

The criminal charges against Orhan led from comments he made with the Swiss newspaper Das Magazin during an interview on February 2005, a weekly supplement to a number of Swiss daily journals: the Tages-Anzeiger, the Basler Zeitung, the Berner Zeitung, and the Solothurner Tagblatt.

In the interview, Orhan said, “Thirty thousand Kurds have been murdered here, and one million Armenians have been murdered here. And almost no one dares to mention that.

Orhan said he was subjected to a hate campaign as a consequence, forcing him to flee the nation. However, he came back later in 2005 to face the charges against him.

Orhan said in an interview with BBC News that he wished to protect the liberty of expression, which was the only hope of Turkey to come to terms with its history: “What happened to the Ottoman Armenians in 1915 was a big thing concealed from the Turkish nation; it was a taboo, but we have to be prepared to speak about the past.”

However, when Turkish television, CNN TURK questioned Orhan about his speech, he confessed. He estimated the number of deaths (as 1 million) in that speech.

Orhan Pamuk Prosecution

At the moment, Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code indicated: “An individual who openly insults the Republic or the Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall be punished by imprisonment for between six months and three years.” Orhan was charged in the interview with breaking this law.

Orhan reiterated his opinions in a speech provided during an award ceremony in Germany in October after the prosecution had stated: “I repeat, I said loud and clear that one million Armenians and 30,000 Kurds were murdered in Turkey.”

The old form of Article 301 before 2005 (and also the new form after the 2008 amendments) required the Ministry of Justice to approve the prosecution under the Article.

A few minutes after the trial of Orhan started on December 16, the judge discovered that the consent had not yet been obtained and that the proceedings had been suspended.

In an interview released on the same day in the Akşam journal, the then Minister of Justice Cemil Çiçek said that he had not yet received the file from Pamuk but would study it carefully once it had arrived.

Turkish state prosecutors dropped the charge on December 29, 2005, that Orhan insulted the armed forces of Turkey, even though the charge of “insulting Turkishness” remained.

Orhan Pamuk International Reaction

The charges against Orhan triggered a global outcry, leading to issues about the suggested entry of Turkey into the European Union in some circles.

The European Parliament published on November 30, that it would send to observe the trial a delegation of five MEPs led by Camiel Eurlings. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn subsequently said that the Orhan case would be a “litmus test” of Turkey’s engagement to EU membership criteria.

Amnesty International issued a statement on December 1, calling for the repeal of Article 301 and for the release of Orhan and six others awaiting trial under the act.

The PEN American Center also denounced the allegations against Orhan, saying: “PEN considers it extraordinary that a State which has signed both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of the United Nations and the European Convention on Human Rights, both of which regard liberty of speech as key, should have a penal code containing a clause which is so obviously contrary to the same.

On December 13, eight world-renowned authors José Saramago, Gabriel García Márquez, Günter Grass, Umberto Eco, Carlos Fuentes, Juan Goytisolo, John Updike, and Mario Vargas Llosa issued a joint declaration promoting Pamuk and denouncing the charges against him as a human rights breach.

In 2008, Prospect Magazine (United Kingdom) and Foreign Policy (United States) elected Orhan as the fourth most intelligent individual in the globe in an open online poll.

Orhan Pamuk Charges Dropped

On January 22, 2006, the Turkish Ministry of Justice refused to issue the prosecution’s permission, stating they had no power under the new penal code to open a case against Orhan.

With the local court trial, the next day it was ruled that the case could not continue without the approval of the Ministry of Justice. Finally, Orhan’s lawyer, Haluk, verified that charges had been dropped. The announcement took place in a week when a review of the Turkish justice system was planned for the EU.

Orhan Pamuk Nobel Prize

On October 12, 2006, the Swedish Academy reported that he had been granted the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature, perplexing savants and oddsmakers who had inferred that Syrian writer Ali Ahmad Said, known as Adunis, was destined to get that year’s honor.

There were worries inside Turkey that the choice to grant the Nobel Prize to Pamuk was politically propelled. In its reference, the Academy stated: “In the journey for the melancholic soul of his local city, Orhan has found new images for the conflict and joining of societies.”

Orhan held his Nobel Lecture on December 7, 2006, at the Swedish Academy, Stockholm. The talk was entitled “Babamın Bavulu” (“My Father’s Suitcase”) and was given in Turkish. In the talk, he symbolically discussed relations among Eastern and Western developments utilizing the topic of his association with his dad.

Orhan’s books bankrupt a record and sold more than 200,000 duplicates after the declaration of his prosperity, prompting him to turn into Sweden’s top-of-the-line beneficiary of the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Orhan Pamuk Other Awards and Honors

• 1979 Milliyet Press Novel Contest Award (Turkey) for his novel Karanlık ve Işık (co-winner)
• 1983 Orhan Kemal Novel Prize (Turkey) for his novel Cevdet Bey ve Oğulları
• 1984 Madarali Novel Prize (Turkey) for his novel Sessiz Ev

• 1990 Independent Foreign Fiction Prize (United Kingdom) for his novel Beyaz Kale
• 1991 Prix de la Découverte Européenne (France) for the French edition of Sessiz Ev : La Maison de Silence
• 1991 Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival (Turkey) Best Original Screenplay Gizli Yüz

• 1995 Prix France Culture (France) for his novel Kara Kitap: Le Livre Noir
• 2002 Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger (France) for his novel My Name Is Red: Mon Nom est Rouge
• 2002 Premio Grinzane Cavour (Italy) for his novel My Name Is Red

• 2003 International Dublin Literary Award (Ireland) for his novel My Name Is Red (awarded jointly with translator Erdağ M. Göknar)
• 2005 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade (Germany)

• 2005 Prix Médicis étranger (France) for his novel Snow: La Neige
• 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature (Sweden)
• 2006 Washington University’s Distinguished Humanist Award (United States)

• 2006  Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (France)
• 2008 Ovidius Prize (Romania)
• 2010 Norman Mailer Prize, Lifetime Achievement (USA)

• 2012 Sonning Prize (Denmark)
• 2012  Légion d’honneur Officier (France)
• 2014 The Mary Lynn Kotz Award (USA) for his book “The Innocence of Objects”

• 2014 Tabernakul Prize (Macedonia)
• 2014 European Museum of the Year Award (Estonia)
• 2014 Helena Vaz da Silva European Award for Public Awareness on Cultural Heritage (Portugal)

• 2015 Erdal Öz Prize (Turkey), for his novel A Strangeness in My Mind
• 2015 Aydın Doğan Foundation Award (Turkey), for his novel A Strangeness in My Mind
• 2016 The Yasnaya Polyana Literary Award (“Foreign Literature” category, Russia) for his novel A Strangeness In My Mind

• 2016 Milovan Vidaković Prize in Novi Sad (Serbia)
• 2017 Budapest Grand Prize (Hungary)

Orhan Pamuk Doctorates, Honoris Causa

• The 2007 Free University of Berlin, Department of Philosophy and Humanities May 4, 2007
• 2007 Tilburg University November 15, 2007

• 2007 Boğaziçi University, Department of Turkish Language and Literature May 14, 2007
• 2007 Georgetown University’s Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa 

• 2007 Complutense University of Madrid
• 2008 University of Florence

• 2008 American University of Beirut
• 2009 University of Rouen

• 2010 University of Tirana
• 2010 Yale University

• 2011 Sofia University
• 2017 Brera Academy (Italia)
• 2017 St. Petersburg State University

Frequently Asked Questions About Orhan Pamuk

Who is Orhan Pamuk?

Orhan is a Turkish novelist, screenwriter, and academic. He is the recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature. One of Turkey’s most prominent novelists, his work has sold over thirteen million books in sixty-three languages, making him the country’s best-selling writer.

How old is Orhan Pamuk? 

Orhan is a Turkish national born on June 7, 1952, in Istanbul, Turkey.

How tall is Orhan Pamuk? 

Orhan stands at a height of 5 feet 8 inches (177 cm, 1.77 meters).

Is Orhan Pamuk married?

Yes, Orhan is married to Aslı Akyavaş. Further information regarding Orhan’s spouse in detail is currently under review and will be updated once available.

How much is Orhan Pamuk worth? 

Orhan has a net worth of $1 million and $5 million dollars (Approx) as of 2021. This amount has been accrued from his leading roles in the entertainment industry.

Where does Orhan Pamuk live? 

Because of security reasons, Orhan has not shared his precise location of residence. We will update this information if we get the location and images of his house.

Is Orhan Pamuk dead or alive? 

Orhan is alive and in good health. There have been no reports of him being sick or having any health-related issues.

Where is Orhan Pamuk Now? 

Orhan is pursuing his career as a novelist. One of Turkey’s most prominent novelists, his work has sold over thirteen million books in sixty-three languages, making him the country’s best-selling writer.

Orhan Pamuk Contacts

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook: Pending Update.
• Youtube: Pending Update.
• Tiktok: Pending Update.
• Website: Pending Update.