Writer (b. 1915, Istanbul - d. 7 May 1986). He completed his secondary education at Galatasaray High School (1935). As contracted tuberculosis, he returned to Turkey, leaving his higher education at Heidelberg University in Germany (1938). He graduated from Istanbul University, Faculty of Literature, German Language and Literature Department in 1950. In the years when he worked as an assistant of Art History in universities, his first play Günün Adami (Man of the Day, 1953) was banned before it had been performed in the City Theatres. He graduated from the Max Reinhardt Theatre Institute in Vienna and then worked as assistant director at various theatres in this city. Returning to Turkey in 1957, he gave literature, art history and literature courses at the Institute of Journalism and at the Faculty of Literature at Istanbul University and theatre courses at the Language, History and Geography Faculty at Ankara University. He wrote culture and art articles in the newspaper Tercuman between 1955 and 60, his columns were published as editorials for some time. His articles in this newspaper and those published in the newspaper Milliyet from 1974 until his death were compiled in a book.

He skillfully wrote about characters from village and city in his stories and novels using a sensitive humor and satire. He was influenced by traditional Turkish theatre in his plays and with this he was regarded as pioneer of contemporary Turkish epic theatre. His most famous play and the one that is regarded as the first example of Turkish epic theatre Kesanli Ali Destani (Kesanli Ali Epic Poem) was staged in Turkey and abroad, and was also was adapted to the cinema and television. He came first in Turkey at an international competition organized by the newspaper Herald Tribune with his story Sishaneye Yagmur Yagiyordu (It Was Rainning in Sishane) in 1953. He won the Saik Faik Award with his play On Ikiye Bir Var (It is One Minute to Twelve) in 1955, the international Bordegherra Aeard with his story Sancho'nun Sabah Yürüyüsü (The Morning Walk of Sancho) in 1969 and the theatre award of the Turkish Language Association with his play Sersem Kocanin Kurnaz Karisi in 1972. Ha shared the Sedat Simavi Foundation Literature Award (with P. N. Boratav) with the book in which he collected his stories, Yalida Sabah (Morning in the Waterside Mansion) in 1983. The plays of Haldun Taner have been performed many times in Istanbul City Theatres, State Theatres and in private theatres. After his death, a story award was organized in his name. New collections of his stories and plays have been published

WORKS:

SHORT STORY: Yasasin Demokrasi (Yipee Democracy!, 1969), Tush (Key, 1951), Sishane'ye Yagmur Yagiyordu (It Was Rainning in Sishane, 1953), Ayisiginda "Çaliskur" ("Çaliskur" in the Moonlight, 1954), On Ikiye Bir Var (It is One Minute to Twelve, 1954), Konçinalar (The Konçinas, 1967), Sancho'nun Sabah Yürüyüsü (Morning Walk of Sancho, 1969), Yalida Sabah (Morning in the Waterside Mansion, 1984).

PLAY: Disardakiler (Those Who Are Outside, 1957), Fazilet Eczanesi (Fazilet Parmacy, 1960), Lütfen Dokunmayin (Please do Not Touch, 1960), Günün Adami (Man of the Day, 1961), Kesanli Ali Destani (Kesanli Ali Epic Poem, 1964, edition, 1979), Gözlerimi Kaparim Vazifemi Yaparim (I Close My Eyes and Do My Job, 1964), Esegin Gölgesinde (In the Shadow of a Donkey, 1965), Zilli Zarife (Shrewish Zarife, 1966), Sersem Kocanin Kurnaz Karisi (The Cunning Wife of the Stupid Husband, 1971), Vatan Kurtaran Saban, Bu Sehr-i Istanbul ki, Astronot Niyazi, Ha Bu Diyar (Saban Who Is Saving the Homeland, This City that is Istanbul, Astronaut Niyazi, This Land, 1971), Asku Sevda (The Love of Love, 1972), Dev Aynasi (Giant Mirror,1973), Yar Bana Bir Eglence (Let's Find Me Some Entertainment, 1974), Hayirdir Insallah (I Hope Nothing's Wrong, 1980).

SPEECH: Hak Dostum Diye Baslayim Söze (I Start by Saying My Dear Friend, 1978).

TRAVEL LITERATURE: Düssem Yollara, Berlin Mektuplari (Wherever I End Up, Letters from Berlin, 1984).

OTHER WORKS: Devekusuna Mektuplar (Letters for an Ostrich, articles on art and literature, 1960), Ölür Ise Ten Ölür Canlar Ölesi Degil (If Something Dies, the Body Dies, But Not Souls, portraits, 1979), Çok Güzelsin Gitme Dur (You Are Very Beautiful, Don't Go, Stop, 1983), Koyma Akil Oyma Akil (Setting Mind, Cutting Mind, 1985), Önce Insan Olmak (First, To Be A Human, 1987).