Orhan Pamuk receives Erdal Öz literary prize in Istanbul
ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency
![Orhan Pamuk receives Erdal Öz literary prize in Istanbul](http://image.hurimg.com/i/hurriyet/75/0x0/59c9147745d2a027e83d040c.jpg)
Pamuk was presented the prize at a ceremony held on Sept. 15 at Istanbul’s Perala Palace Hotel Jumeria.
Öz, who died in 2006 at age 71, established the Can Publishing House in 1981. The Erdal Öz Literary Prize was established in 2008 by Öz’s family.
![Orhan Pamuk receives Erdal Öz literary prize in Istanbul](http://image.hurimg.com/i/hurriyet/75/0x0/59c9147745d2a027e83d040e.jpg)
Pamuk said their friendship started 40 years ago, and Öz had given him the highest point in the story competition.
“The highest point was 100 in the jury point scoring system. Erdal gave zero points for everyone and 100 for me and made me rank third,” he said.
Pamuk said he had learned many things from Öz such as hard work, attentiveness and commitment to a subject, and added, “Between 1983 and 1994, Öz was my publisher, friend and editor.”
The famous novelist noted some 2,000 books were annually published in Turkey in those years, and said, “I think it is about 40,000 [today]. Just like the growth of Istanbul. Once upon a time, when a new building was built, we used to go there to see it. Is there anyone following the new buildings now? In the same way, the publishing sector has progressed and got richer. But now human relations have been lost. When two- or three-storey frame houses are gone, human affairs are gone, too.”
A valuable prize in literature
Can Öz, who made a speech on behalf of the Can Publishing House, said the prize was presented for the 8th time and had become a notable and valuable literary prize.
Talking about the selection committee, Öz said, “Our selection committee has a structure that changes every year. It has seven members and every year the head of the committee does not become a member the next year. Without the intervention of the Öz family, the committee chooses a new member every year.”
The head of this year’s committee, Feride Çiçekoğlu, presented his prize to Pamuk this year.
The author of the bestselling novels “The Black Book,” “My Name Is Red,” “Snow” and “The Museum of Innocence,” Pamuk received the prize, a statuette designed by sculptor Handan Börüteçene, and a cash prize of 15,000 Turkish Liras.