YAŞAMAK GÜZEL ŞEY
(Life is Beautiful)

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Yaşamak Güzel Şey offers a visually rich and emotionally engaging look at the life of renowned poet Nâzım Hikmet. Blending photography and narrative, this “photo-novel” by Ali Cabbar presents a compelling portrait of a writer whose life was shaped by political struggle, imprisonment, exile, and an enduring belief in humanity.

Through carefully curated visuals and a clear, understated narrative, the book traces Hikmet’s journey—from his years in prison to his eventual exile after leaving Turkey in 1951. Rather than offering heavy commentary, Cabbar allows readers to explore the connections between historical events, personal experiences, and broader cultural movements on their own.

The book also highlights the lives of other influential intellectuals of the era, including Orhan Kemal, Kemal Tahir, Suat Derviş, Abidin Dino, and Sabahattin Ali. Their shared experiences of repression and solidarity provide important context and deepen the reader’s understanding of the period.

With its distinctive format, Yaşamak Güzel Şey stands out as a unique contribution to both literary biography and visual storytelling. Together with Cabbar’s earlier work on Deniz Gezmiş, it forms part of a broader effort to reflect on decades of political and cultural history in Turkey.

This full-color edition combines striking imagery with thoughtful storytelling, offering readers a different way to engage with history—one that is both accessible and visually immersive.

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Yaşamak Güzel Şey / FOTOROMAN / ​
Nâzım Hikmet'in Hayatı ve Mücadelesi

Author: Ali Cabbar
Editor: Fahire Kurt
Publisher: Boyut Publishing, November 2025
Full-color print, 288 pages, 21 × 27 cm 
In Turkish