Madam Atatürk: The First Lady of Modern Turkey

Mustafa Kemal Atat rk is hailed as one of the most charismatic political leaders of the twentieth century, but little is known today about his one and only wife, Latife Hanım. A multilingual intellectual educated at the Sorbonne, Latife's marriage to Atat rk raised her to the pinnacle of political power. She played a central role in the creation of a modern and secular Turkey and championed the emancipation of women. Throughout her marriage, she stood beside her husband, acting as his interpreter and diplomatic aide. However, after only two years of marriage, Atat rk divorced Latife, who was shunned and spent the rest of her life in seclusion.

An international bestseller, this intimate biography vividly brings to life the story of an exceptional and courageous woman, well ahead of her time, who lived through a remarkable period in Turkish history.


About the Author
Calislar, Ipek: - Born in Istanbul in 1947, İpek Çalışlar is a journalist and writer. She has worked at the prestigious daily Cumhuriyet for twelve years and has served on the boards of KA-DER, the Association for the Support and Training of Women Candidates, and PEN Turkey. Çalışlar was tried in Turkey for 'insulting the memory of Kemal Atatürk' with this biography but was later acquitted. Her first literary work, Madam Atatürk is a bestseller in Turkey and has been translated into eleven languages.