Dawn

Praise

“Imprisoned Kurdish lawyer and progressive politician Demirtaş delivers a closely observed series of portraits of lives oppressed… A welcome debut collection. One hopes for more—and that Demirtaş will not be silenced by his captors.” — Kirkus
 
“[Demirtaş’] visceral tales expose unfathomable darkness with an unshowy, fable-like straightforwardness as the book nonetheless subtly arcs toward hope… Already a publishing sensation with 200,000 copies sold in Turkey alone, Demirtas’ empathic collection shines the light that its title promises.” — Booklist

“Selahattin Demirtas’ short stories are beautiful and full of surprises, especially in their bold portrayal of women. A new addition to Turkey’s tragic canon of literature written in prison.” — Jennifer Clement, author of Gun Love and President of PEN International
 
“Selahattin Demirtas is Turkey’s most famous political prisoner. He is also that rarest of beasts, a liberal, a democrat and a feminist in a part of the world that is more frequently associated with coercion and intimidation. By turns playful, didactic and full of love for his native Kurdistan, Dawn is a ray of light in the penumbra of today’s Middle East.” — Christopher de Bellaigue, author of The Islamic Enlightenment

“Marvelous and deeply affecting, the imprisoned politician Selahattin Demirtas brings to life the great heart and spirit of ordinary Kurdish people. His stories are horrific yet hopeful, heart-wrenching yet humorous, and offer much-needed insight into what everyday life is like in twenty-first-century Turkey.” — Christiane Bird, author of A Thousand Sighs, A Thousand Revolts: Journeys in Kurdistan