Turkish writer Yasar Kemal to be decorated with French Legion d'Honneur

ISTANBUL (A.A) - December 15, 2011 - Turkish writer Yasar Kemal will be decorated with France's highest order of Legion d'Honneur on December 17. Kemal will be presented his order by Great Chancellor of the French national order of Legion d'Honneur Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin with a ceremony at French Palace in Istanbul.  Gen. Georgelin will decorate Kemal with "Grand Officier dans l'Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur" for his extraordinary literature outline, humanism in his works and service for dialogue among cultures. Legion d'Honneur is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte. The Order is the highest decoration in France and is divided into five various degrees: Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer), Commandeur (Commander), Grand Officier (Grand Officer) and Grand Croix (Grand Cross). This order was presented for the first time in 1802. Born in 1923, Yasar Kemal is one of Turkey's leading writers. He has long been a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature, on the strength of Memed, My Hawk.