Elif Şafak is a Turkish-British novelist and political scientist who has published 21 books translated into almost sixty languages. Born in 1971, she addresses themes including minority rights, the roles of women in society, and the historical complexities of Istanbul. Her career spans both academic research and a prolific literary output that has garnered international attention and scrutiny.
Background and Academic Career
Born in Strasbourg to a professor of social psychology and a diplomat, Şafak spent her youth in Ankara, Madrid, Jordan, and Germany. She earned an undergraduate degree in international relations and a master's in women's studies from Middle East Technical University, later completing a PhD in political science. Her academic trajectory included positions at the University of Michigan, the University of Arizona, and Oxford University, where she held the Weidenfeld Visiting Professorship.
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Şafak’s debut novel, Pinhan, received the Rumi Prize in 1998, followed by Mahrem, which won the Turkish Authors' Association Best Novel award in 2000. Her writing often navigates sensitive political terrain. In 2006, she faced trial for allegedly insulting Turkishness by discussing the Armenian genocide in The Bastard of Istanbul; she was acquitted. Later investigations by Turkish authorities targeted her writing on sexual violence and child abuse.
Notable Works and Global Recognition
The Forty Rules of Love established Şafak as a commercial success, setting sales records in Turkey. Other significant titles include Honour, The Architect’s Apprentice, and Three Daughters of Eve. Her 2019 novel 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World earned a Booker Prize shortlist nomination. She is a recipient of the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres and became president of the Royal Society of Literature in 2025.
Fast facts
- Born: 1971, Strasbourg
- Citizenship: Turkey
- Academic background: PhD in political science
- Language proficiency: Turkish and English
- Selected award: Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres
- Royal Society of Literature role: President (2025)
- Published works: 21 books
- Future contribution: Future Library project participant
Questions readers ask
What languages does Elif Şafak write in?
She writes in both Turkish and English.
Has she held academic posts in the United Kingdom?
Yes, she was the Weidenfeld Visiting Professor at St Anne’s College, Oxford, and is a visiting fellow at Hertford College.
Achievements
- Notable work: Three Daughters of Eve
- Notable work: Terra Incognita
- Affiliated with University of Michigan
- Worked as writer, novelist and journalist
