ELIF SHAFAK BOOKS

Elif Shafak is an internationally acclaimed British-Turkish author, public intellectual, and advocate for women's rights, freedom of expression, and minority voices. Born in Strasbourg, France, in 1971, she was raised in Turkey and has lived in numerous countries, experiences that deeply inform her multicultural perspective and storytelling style. Shafak writes in both English and Turkish and is the author of numerous novels, essays, and nonfiction works that explore themes such as identity, belonging, love, trauma, politics, and the tension between tradition and modernity. Her novels, including The Bastard of Istanbul, The Forty Rules of Love, 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World, and The Island of Missing Trees, have been translated into over 55 languages and have earned her a global readership. Elif Shafak is known for blending Eastern and Western literary traditions, weaving together history, mysticism, philosophy, and contemporary issues with lyrical prose and deep emotional insight. Her work often gives voice to marginalized characters and challenges taboos in Turkish society and beyond. In addition to her fiction, Shafak is a frequent speaker at global forums and contributes to major publications on issues like democracy, human rights, and pluralism. She holds a Ph.D. in political science and has taught at various universities in Turkey, the United States, and the UK. In 2010, she was awarded the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government, and in 2019, she was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Her ability to speak to both political urgency and human vulnerability has made her one of the most important literary voices of our time. Elif Shafak continues to inspire readers around the world with her commitment to storytelling as a force for empathy, understanding, and change.