Elif Shafak is a celebrated British-Turkish novelist whose work is widely read and deeply resonant. Writing in both Turkish and English, she crafts narratives that delve into the complexities of identity, culture, and politics with a keen eye for linguistic nuance and emotional depth. Her prose is characterized by a rich stylistic palette, exploring the intersections of diverse experiences and fostering a thoughtful engagement with the human condition. As a prominent advocate for social justice, Shafak's writing and public speaking consistently challenge boundaries and promote critical dialogue.
The narrative intertwines the lives of three individuals across different eras and locations, united by the theme of water. In ancient Mesopotamia, fragments of the Epic of Gilgamesh lie buried. In Victorian London, a gifted boy named Arthur escapes poverty through literature, while in modern Turkey, Narin faces a perilous journey amid conflict. Meanwhile, Zaleekhah, a hydrologist in London, seeks solace on a houseboat after personal loss. Elif Shafak's storytelling explores the connections between history, culture, and the enduring significance of water.
The new novel from the Booker-shortlisted, internationally bestselling author of The Island of Missing Trees and 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World ***** There Are Rivers in the Sky is a rich, sweeping novel set between the 19th century and modern times, about love and loss, memory and erasure, hurt and healing, centred around three enchanting characters living on the banks of the River Thames and the River Tigris - their lives all curiously touched by the epic of Gilgamesh. ***** 'Elif Shafak is a unique and powerful voice in world literature' Ian McEwan 'Shafak makes a new home for us in words' Colum McCann 'One of the best writers in the world today' Hanif Kureishi
A novel about belonging and identity, love and trauma, nature and renewal, from the Booker-shortlisted author of 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World.
It feels like the world is falling apart. So how do we keep hold of our optimism? How do we nurture the parts of ourselves that hope, trust and believe in something better? And how can we stay sane in this world of division?In this beautifully written and illuminating polemic, Booker Prize nominee Elif Shafak reflects on our age of pessimism, when emotions guide and misguide our politics, and misinformation and fear are the norm. A tender, uplifting plea for optimism, Shafak draws on her own memories and delves into the power of stories to reveal how writing can nurture democracy, tolerance and progress. And in the process, she answers one of the most urgent questions of our time.
'In the first minute following her death, Tequila Leila's consciousness began to ebb, slowly and steadily, like a tide receding from the shore. Her brain cells, having run out of blood, were now completely deprived of oxygen. But they did not shut down. Not right away...' For Leila, each minute after her death brings a sensuous memory- the taste of spiced goat stew, sacrificed by her father to celebrate the long-awaited birth of a son; the sight of bubbling vats of lemon and sugar which the women use to wax their legs while the men attend mosque; the scent of cardamom coffee that Leila shares with a handsome student in the brothel where she works. Each memory, too, recalls the friends she made at each key moment in her life - friends who are now desperately trying to find her. . .
The stunning, timely new novel from the acclaimed, internationally bestselling author follows Peri, a married, wealthy, beautiful Turkish woman, on her way to a dinner party in Istanbul. As a beggar snatches her handbag, a photograph falls out—a polaroid of three young women and their university professor, a relic from a past Peri has tried to forget. Set over an evening in contemporary Istanbul, the story unfolds as Peri navigates the tensions between East and West, religious and secular, rich and poor. Amidst the opulence of the dinner, terrorist attacks erupt across the city. Competing in Peri's mind are memories evoked by the polaroid, recalling her time at Oxford University, where she befriended the charming Shirin, a fully assimilated Iranian, and Mona, a devout Egyptian-American. Their debates on Islam and feminism center around the charismatic Professor Azur, who teaches divinity in unconventional ways. As the attacks draw nearer, Peri reflects on the scandal that ultimately tore them apart. Elif Shafak, the number one bestselling novelist in Turkey, delivers a rich and moving narrative that humanizes a profound sea change in the modern world.
Set within a once-stately apartment block in Istanbul, The Flea Palace tells the story of Bonbon Palace, built by Russian noble émigré Pavel Antipov for his wife Agripina at the end of the Tsarist reign. It is now sadly dilapidated, flea-infested, and home to ten very different individuals and their families. Elif Shafak gives us a bird's-eye insight into each apartment, and we see their comic and tragic lives unfold.
'Tell me. What would be the right gift to send to a man who has everything?' 'An elephant, my Lord. The biggest animal on the land.' Sixteenth century Istanbul: a young stowaway arrives in the city bearing an extraordinary gift for the Sultan. The boy has no wordly possessions to his name except Chota, a rare and valuable white elephant destined for the palace menagerie. So begins an epic adventure that will see young Jahan rise from his lowly origins to the highest ranks of the Sultan's court. Along the way he will meet deceitful courtiers and false friends, gypsies, animal tamers, and the beautiful, mischievous Princess Mihrimah. He will journey on Chota's back to the furthest corners of the Sultan's kingdom and back again. And one day he will catch the eye of the royal architect, Sinan, a chance encounter destined to change Jahan's fortunes forever. Filled with the scents, sounds and sights of the Ottoman Empire, when Istanbul was the teeming centre of civilisation, The Architect's Apprentice is a magical, sweeping tale of one boy and his elephant caught up in a world of wonder and danger.
'My mother died twice. I promised myself I would not let her story be forgotten . . .' Pembe and Adem Toprak leave Turkey for London. There they make new lives for their family. Yet the traditions and beliefs of their home come with them - carried in the blood of their children, Iskender and Esma. Trapped by past mistakes, the Toprak children find their lives torn apart and transformed by a brutal and chilling crime. Set in Turkey and London in the 1970s, Honour explores pain and loss, loyalty and betrayal, the clash of tradition and modernity, as well as the love and heartbreak that can tear any family apart. Praise for Elif Shafak: 'Vivid storytelling, a gripping novel . . . scenes blaze with the force of parable.' Sunday Telegraph 'A stunning novel. Exotic, evocative and utterly gripping.' The Times 'Moving, subtle and ultimately hopeful, Honour is further proof that Shafak is the most exciting Turkish novelist to reach western readers in years.' Irish Times 'Extraordinarily skilfully crafted . . . with Shakespearean twists and turns, omens and enigmas, prophecies and destinies.' Independent
The author recounts her effort to balance her writing career and her parenting responsibilities, describing her battle with postpartum depression, her views on prominent women authors, and the many roles she embraced throughout her journey.
