Ahmed Sadiqi Ashrafi’s Book My Golden Horse and Other Stories Published in Ardabil

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, January 23, 2014


The book My Golden Horse and Other Stories (“Qızıl Atım və Başqa Öykülər”), a collection of Turkish short stories by the Ardabil-based writer Ahmed Sadiqi Ashrafi, known by the pen name "Elif Nuranlı," has been published 30 years after the author’s death. This book is the first published work of the southern Azerbaijani writer.

According to the semi-official Mehr News Agency, which presents Elif Nuranlı as the first short story writer in the history of Ardabil, he was unable to publish his stories during his lifetime due to the cultural dictatorship of the Pahlavi regime.

The introduction of My Golden Horse and Other Stories includes writings by the famous poet of the song "Ayrılıq," Farhad Ibrahim, as well as authors Saleh Atayi and Reza Kazimi, who reflect on Nuranlı’s literary work. The book was published by the Savalan İgidleri publishing house.

Reza Kazimi’s thoughts on the Ardabil writer, reflected in Mehr, mention that the anthropological perspective in Nuranlı's works is one of the most important features of his writing. This technique is likely to attract the attention of young writers.

All three literary figures have described the publication of My Golden Horse and Other Stories as an important event for Iran Azerbaijan, particularly for Ardabil.

Ahmad Sadiqi Ashrafi was a member of the Turkish Writers' Union during his time.


Link to the original text in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Əhməd Sadiqi Əşrafinin “Qızıl Atım və Başqa Öykülər” adlı kitabı işıq üzü görüb