The novel recounts the night life and entertainment world of
early 20th century in Istanbul. The main protagonists consist
of a group of writers, journalists and artists including the
author himself. One day as the writer sits at Petrograd Bar, he
sees a woman entering number 74 on Asmalmescit Street in
Pera. After awhile, another woman enters the house, and this
makes the narrator curious. He settles in a shop opposite the
house and starts to keep the building under close observation.
Strangers keep on entering and leaving the house. It seems
foreign men and women use the space for their enjoyment.
Most of these pleasure seekers are writers, poets and artists
of the era. The writer sees women standing in the doorway
and kissing. These are Lilli and Georgette, two women in love.
Even if Lilli tries to find a man to have a normal life, Georgette
doesn’t give up on her as she is in love with her. They meet
writers, poets and artists of the era everyday in this house, and
drink and get high until the next morning. The author himself is
within these group of pleasure seekers, and the novel remains
in the framework of the writer’s memories recalling the revelry
he enjoyed at Asmalmescit Street number 74.
Asmalımescit 74
“Fikret Adil’s novel describes the lives of adventurers
who have left their countries in search of excitement
or some others like foreigners in enforced exile: White
Russians and foreign artists, all habitués of a street,
during the final era of Ottoman Empire.”
Ali Rıza Kardüz
Asmalımescit 74
1933
210 mm x 135 mm
135 pages
Film & TV Rights are optioned to one of the
major production companies in Turkey
FOREIGN RIGHTS CATALOGUE - ONK AGENCY