Kemal, Yashar

New York. 1979. Morrow. 1st American Edition. Very Good in Dustjacket. 0688034438. Translated from the Turkish by Thilda Kemal. 220 pages. hardcover. Jacket design by Lydia Rosier. keywords: Literature Translated Turkey . FROM THE PUBLISHER - The influence of mysticism and the occult upon the unsophisticated mind is a major theme in this powerful novel depicting a terrible winter endured by the Yalak villagers of THE UNDYING GRASS. After a bad cotton harvest, they are unable to pay their creditor, the shopkeeper, Adil Effendi; and such a break with age-old tradition overwhelms them with shame and guilt. They wait in terror for Adil to come, but he fails to appear and in his inexplicable absence his figure swells until it fills their minds and they become sick with apprehension, sure that some terrible disaster will befall them. In their extremity they turn to Tashbash, a brave man and one of their own, who has always stood up for them against the tyranny of Sefer, their Headman. They invest Tashbash with all the virtues, and to these miraculous power is gradually added. What this does to Tashbash, his innocent doubts and mental torment, and the fate that comes upon him result in a moving and eloquent story combining acute observation of human nature, lyrical beauty, and deep compassion. inventory #1240 ISBN: 0688034438.