Nazim Hikmet
1902-1963
Nazim Hikmet was a Turkish poet, playwright and novelist. Born in 1902 in Salonica, then part of the Ottoman Empire, he studied in Istanbul and Moscow. Hikmet was a prolific writer who was known for his political activism and his use of free verse in his poems. His work often dealt with themes of love, freedom and social justice. Despite facing censorship and persecution, he continued to write and publish his works, and was considered one of the most important poets of the 20th century. He was awarded numerous prizes and honors throughout his career, including the Lenin Peace Prize. Hikmet died in 1963 in Moscow.