Valor eBook

Winner of the 2021 Global Humanities Translation PrizeAmong Murathan Mungan s signature works, Cenk Hikyeleri (Valor: Stories) has long been considered a milestone of twentieth-century Turkish literature. The six short stories in the collection reflect the author s multiethnic background (which includes Kurdish, Arab, and Turkish heritage) and represent his lush poetics, literary breadth, and sociopolitical commitments. Valor reimagines Shahmaran, a mythical half-human, half-snake figure that commonly appears in the folklore of Turkey s southeastern provinces. Legend interweaves with the contemporary realities of ethnicity, religious dogma, gender, and sexuality. Uncovering hidden narratives within a rich and complicated culture, Mungan s stories depict self-realization and sexual awakening as they showcase one of Turkey s most popular literary voices.