Rıfat Ilgaz (7 May 1911 – 7 July 1993) was a Turkish teacher, writer and poet. He became especially known for his novel "Hababam Sınıfı". He maintained a socialist line both in his writings and in his personal life. His magazine work, which continued Turkey's most turbulent political flow, caused him to spend time in courthouse corridors and prison, like many writers of the same period.[8] In his very productive literary life, he wrote works in many different fields, from poetry to humorous stories, from novels to children's books. His work "Karartma Geceleri", which was once confiscated, was included in the list of 100 Essential Works in 2004.[9] The author's works are now protected by Çınar Publications, which he founded together with his son Aydın Ilgaz. These books are printed by Türkiye İş Bankası Kültür Yayınları.[10]

He was born in Cide, in the Kastamonu Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey). Ilgaz was one of Turkey’s best-known and most prolific poets and writers, having authored over sixty works. Ilgaz started writing poetry during his junior school years and evolved into one of the prolific social-realist writers of the 20th-century Turkish literature. His poems are considered prime examples of socialist-realistic writing. While he has never really been a partisan of political ideologies, the fact that he has written about the sufferings of the people placed him at a left wing perspective. Like other writers of his time, Ilgaz was imprisoned as a result of one of his publications.

In addition to his writing, he led an accomplished career as a lecturer in Turkish literature. He was among the contributors of the literary magazine Adımlar between 1943 and 1944.^[1] In 1946 he founded a leading satirical weekly magazine, Marko Paşa, with Aziz Nesin and Sabahattin Ali.^[2]

Rıfat Ilgaz died in Istanbul on 7 July 1993 due to lung failure. He was buried at Zincirlikuyu Cemetery.^[3]

One collection of Ilgaz's short stories has been published in English translation.

A 2001 short story collection by Turkish writer Rifat Ilgaz published by Milet Books, in dual Turkish and English translation by Damian Croft, as part of its series of Turkish-English Short Story Collections.

The publisher states that, “In the deftly comic six-part story, Fourth Company and two further stories, Rifat Ilgaz turns his sharp but affectionate wit on compulsory military service, holidays at home and the pathological fear of doctors.”^[4]

The volume consists of the stories;

• Fourth Company (Parts 1–6)
• Off to Exchange Bayram Greetings
• A Fear of Doctors

• Fourth Company. trans. Damian Croft. London: Milet Books. 2001. ISBN 978-1-84059-298-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)

• Apartıman Çocukları
• Bacaksız Okulda
• Bacaksız Plajda
• Cart Curt
• Çalış Osman Çiftlik Senin
• Devam
• Don Kişot Istanbul'da
• Garibin Horozu
• Geçmişe Mazi
• Güvercinim Uyur mu?
• Hababam Sınıfı (1975) (made into a movie)^[5]
• Hababam Sınıfı Sınıfta Kaldı (1975) (made into a movie)^[6]
• Hababam Sınıfı Baskında (made into a movie)
• Hababam Sınıfı İcraatın İçinde
• Hababam Sınıfı Uyanıyor
• Hoca Nasrettin Ve Çömezleri
• Karadeniz'in Kıyıcığında
• Karartma Geceleri (1990) (made into a movie)^[7]
• Kırk Yıl Once Kırk Yıl Sonra
• Kulağımız Kirişte
• Nerde Kalmıştık
• Nerde O Eski Usturalar
• Ocak Katırı Alagöz
• Öksüz Civciv
• Pijamalılar
• Radarın Anahtarı
• Rüşvetin Alamancası
• Sarı Yazma
• Sınıf
• Soluk Soluğa/Karakılçık/Uzak Değil
• Sosyal Kadınlar Partisi
• Şeker Kutusu
• Üsküdar'da Sabah Oldu
• Yarenlik
• Yaşadıkça
• Yıldız Karayel
• Yokuş Yukarı
• Halime Kaptan

• List of contemporary Turkish poets

[8]-"Şiir yazdı hapse atıldı". Habertürk. 23 Mayıs 2020 tarihinde kaynağından arşivlendi. Erişim tarihi: 13 Şubat 2021. [9]-"İşte yeni yılda öğrencilere okutulacak 100 temel eser". Hürriyet. 19 Mart 2018 tarihinde kaynağından arşivlendi. Erişim tarihi: 13 Şubat 2021. [10]-"Türkiye İş banaksında biyografisi". 30 Haziran 2015 tarihinde kaynağından arşivlendi. Erişim tarihi: 27 Haziran 2015.