Andrew Mango | |
|---|---|
 Mango in 2009 at a conference in Ankara, Turkey | |
| Born | 14 June 1926 Istanbul, Turkey |
| Died | 6 July 2014 (aged 88) London, United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Author |
| Language | English, Turkish |
| Nationality | British |
Andrew James Alexander Mango (14 June 1926 – 6 July 2014) was a British BBC employee and author.
He was born in Istanbul, one of three sons of Alexander Mango, an Italian-Greek barrister and his White Russian wife Adelaide Damonov; the Byzantinist Cyril Mango was his younger brother. He was brought up in Istanbul and mastered a number of languages.[1]
While still young, Mango took a job as press officer in the British Embassy at Ankara. He moved to the United Kingdom in 1947 and lived in London until his death.[1] He held degrees from the University of London, including a doctorate on Persian literature.
Mango joined the BBC's Turkish section while a student and spent his entire career in the External Services, rising to be Turkish Programme Organiser and then Head of the South European Service. He retired in 1986.[2] He died at the age of 88 on 6 July 2014. His death was announced by Richard Moore, the British Ambassador to Turkey.[2][3]
His background in Persian and Arabic studies allowed Mango to master Ottoman Turkish. He wrote his PhD thesis at the SOAS on Alexander the Great. Where he later throughout his career would also lecture as guest, and advise on modern Turkish studies.
Mango published his first book in 1968, while he was working for the BBC. After his retirement his productivity increased. His book on Kemal Atatürk, from 1999, established an international reputation.[4]
