Yaşar Kemal (born Kemal Sadık Gökçeli; 6 October 1923 – 28 February 2015) was one of Turkey's leading writers. He received 38 awards during his lifetime and had been a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature on the strength of Memed, My Hawk.
Sait Faik Abasıyanık (18 November 1906 – 11 May 1954) was one of the greatest Turkish writers of short stories and poetry and considered an important literary figure of the 1940s
Sevgi Soysal, born Sevgi Yenen, (September 30, 1936 – November 22, 1976) was a Turkish female writer.
Aziz Nesin (born Mehmet Nusret Nesin, December 20, 1915 – July 6, 1995) was a Turkish writer and humorist who authored more than 100 books.
Oğuz Atay (1934–1977) was a pioneer of the modern novel in Turkey.
Adalet Ağaoğlu (1929 - ) is a Turkish novelist and playwright. She is considered one of the foremost novelists of 20th century Turkish literature. She has also written essays, memoirs, and short stories.