Oh Beyoğlu, Woe Beyoğlu

''Istanbul is one of the main mythological cities on Earth, and Beyoğlu is the lifeblood of the city. It's not for every hero to encompass such a challenging subject. It's no coincidence that Salâh Birsel's most famous book is "Ah Beyoğlu Vah Beyoğlu." If it has been considered one of the cult books of our literature since its publication in 1976, the most concrete reason for this is that no similar work has ever been written. "Ah Beyoğlu Vah Beyoğlu" cannot be limited to being merely a panoramic history of a district, of a street: it is also a vibrant witness to an era. More importantly: it is one of the most enjoyable writings in Turkish Literature.''

Enis Batur