Scots Scholarship led in 15th & 16th centuries - before Enlightenment

`George Buchanan

“Scotland was culturally as much in Europe as Paris.” 

In the small picturesque town of Killearn there is a tall monument to the great 16^th century scholar George Buchanan. He was tutor to James VI and was the father of democracy who wrote about not allowing the divine right of kings.

The Scottish enlightenment was part of a wider European movement, reaching its height between 1750-1800. Before the enlightenment  Scotland had many renowned and leading scholars who attended and taught at Paris. Scots Scholars led in 15^th & 16^th centuries - before any Enlightenment. The Scottish Enlightenment of the late 1700s did not come totally out of the blue. Lets name a few Scots scholars before 1750: Duns Scotus (1266 – 1308); George Buchannan (1506 – 1582); John Mair (1467 – 1550) theology at Paris, philosopher who taught John Knox; James Dalrymple (1619 – 1695) founder Scots Law; Frances Hutcheson; William Robertson.

There has been a cultural and historical amnesia in Scotland with many totally unaware of the important influence Scots have had over the centuries. Even today there is an image of Scotland as a cringe worthy Brigadoon, of whisky and bonny glens. In the 1700s, the British empire depended on the educated Scots as their bookkeepers, explorers, surveyors, medics, scientists, philosophers, scholars, poets and engineers. 

For centuries Scotland had a strong trade of goods, culture and ideas to Europe by ship, which was much faster than coach to London. According to the book, The Scottish Enlightenment by Alexander Broadie. “The Scottish enlightenment is inextricably bound up with the country’s identity which reaches into Reformation and beyond that to the great cultural achievements of mediaeval Scotland….it is evident that Scotland of the 15^th and 16^th century was an outward looking country, well aware of Europe’s high culture and wide open to new ideas. It is also demonstrable that Scots of the period contributed substantially to that shared European culture.” 

In his article entitled “An Unstoppable Glow” by Louis Hall, Sunday National, 9^th September, he makes the claim that the Enlightenment happened in Edinburgh’s new town, which they only started building in the 1780s. Many of the major Scottish enlightenment figures such as Adam Smith (1723 – 1790) and David Hume (1711 – 1776) were dead by the time the new town was actually built. It is wrong to claim, as Hall does, That for a hundred years, the main cultural, social, intellectual and political content in Britain flowed from south to north. By the 19^th century the current was in reverse.” 

It is also wrong to suggest the Scottish enlightenment started in the new town. The Auld town of Edina was a great melting pot where all walks of life engaged – at gentlemen’s clubs, literati parties, societies and at the Mercat cross and Luckenbooths near to St Giles and the Scottish parliament. Here was William Creech’s publishing house and where Allan Ramsey and many other leading Edina figures lived. The wealthy lived at the top of Edina’s high story buildings that line the Royal Mile, the middle classes in the middle and the poor on the first floors. 

 

The new town was still being built when Robert Burns first visited in November 1786, when he stayed at Baxters close near the castle. Every day Burns went to Creech’s Publishing house to organise his second edition of poetry. He met the enlightenment figures at parties, clubs and at the Luckenbooths every day. On his return to Edinburgh in the autumn of 1787 after his Scotia travels, he stayed with friends in the newly built St Andrews square, the first part of the new town to be built.  

Hall also claims that Charles I “pandered to the Covenanters” – Charles did not ‘pander’, he tried to impose the Anglican Bible and bishops on the Scottish kirk, which Scots rebelled against and this became known as the Bishops War and the War of the Three Kingdoms – and not the English civil war.

There is also the crucial history of Scottish ancient universities, which they based on university models over in Europe. At this time in the late 1700s, Scotland boasted four leading universities and its population was 1m compared to England at 4m. I visited Aberdeen university where my son was studying and I was surprised with its all its ancient history and to discover that Scotland had four ancient universities. In the 15th century it was Scottish universities which were the four leading centres of learning – St Andrews founded in 1410, Glasgow 1451, Aberdeen 1495, Edinburgh 1583. By comparison England had two mainly religious universities at Oxford and Cambridge. It wasn’t until the 1800s that England set up its universities - Manchester 1824, London 1826, Durham 1832.

Scots scholars went over to America and founded several of America’s top universities and Scots Americans were some of America’s Founding Fathers. They were profoundly important to the American constitution with the influence of Scottish moral Philosophy. Scottish enlightenment figures contributed to the American national character, constitution and democracy – such as David Hume and Adam Smith. 

"Americans built their world around the principles of Adam Smith and Thomas Reid of individual interest governed by common sense and a limited need for government.' Historian Arthur L Herman. The historian Tom Devine has written of the profound influence of Scots on American universities notably John Witherspoon (1723 – 1794) who founded Princeton and educated future president James Madison, 28 senators, 49 congressman and 39 judges. “In the 1700s the Atlantic highway from Europe to America was a highway of ideas.”

The Scottish enlightenment – First to think for yourselves. And secondly the virtue of tolerance in an enlightened society is one where people are able to put ideas into the public domain without fear. 

Broadie writes, “The Scottish Enlightenment is inextricably bound up with the country’s identity, which reaches into Reformation and beyond that to the great cultural achievements of medieval Scotland.... “The 1700s Scottish enlightenment brought us theories of common sense and moral sentiment. This was the basis for foundations of democracy and rational thought. And Scotland led the way.

The Sound of Music

 

 

When I was nine, the Sound of Music film with Julie Andrews played for a whole year at the Odeon in Edinburgh. My family went three times to see it, as did many others!

 

‘My heart will be filled with the sound of music, and I’ll sing once more.

 

‘Nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could, so somewhere is in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good.’’ 

 

‘Climb every Mountain, search every stream, follow every rainbow, until you find your dream.’ 

 

In a recent Bazaar article Kaitlyn Greenage on Icons, said she re-watched the Sound of Music, ”because she "wanted to watch something that looked nothing like our current reality,"

 She wanted the "low hum of the Deluxe Colour Sky, and the smooth matte face of Julie Andrews, and the assurance that the voices of pyrotechnics can protect a family from fascism.”  

 

 

The Sound of Music is set to a true story, against the backdrop of the Nazi occupation of Austria. Maria was brought up by an abusive uncle with mental health problems, before joining a convent. 

 

Kaitlyn Greenage writes, “In part the film is about the triumph over the emptiness of nihilism, about how to believe in something outside your own fear and doubts. You cannot reach somewhere good without the foundation of some small steps in that direction.”

 

“You cannot create something that will endure without the practice of devotion. Devotion for the artist can be found in the purity of a brushstroke, for the musician the profound, floating notes that lift your soul to a higher place.” 

 

“A fearless devolution to their work.”

 

 I played the songs on the piano over and over. It all had a profound influence on me growing into my teenage years. My childhood wasn’t often a happy place, with my dad’s drinking issues, my mum often escaping to the garden. Music and songs were my father’s safe place. Music also became my safe and happy place. A place of hope.

Celtic Connections 2027 announced

 

Transatlantic Sessions

GRIT orchestra

From 14 – 31 January 2027, world renowned Celtic Connections will inspire in 2027, with 18 days of unique events, special collaborations, world premieres, and intimate shows, all celebrating music’s power to transcend borders, cultures, generations and genres.

  - of folk, traditional, roots, world, jazz, orchestral, electronic, Americana and indie music will welcome musicians from 20 countries, across Scotland, Ireland, the US, Canada, Spain, Senegal, Australia, Pakistan, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway,  France, Sudan, India and Portugal, for its 34th edition. This forward-thinking festival, embraces tradition as constantly evolving. 

With 300 events across 25 venues.

The festival returns to venues O2 Academy, Glasgow International Arena – formerly the Emirates Arena – best loved venues Old Fruitmarket, SWG3 and Saint Luke’s.

From emerging talent to world-class acts, highlights of the 2027 programme include:

      Scotland's GRIT Orchestra: World Premiere – Celtic Connections’ famed Opening Concert will welcome Scottish traditional music in an orchestral setting,  a homage to Martyn Bennet. This acclaimed ensemble, conducted by Greg Lawson, will perform brand new arrangements of some of the greatest melodies in the folk repertoire, bringing both ancient and contemporary tunes into a symphony setting.

Headliners at Glasgow International Arena – The festival will take over Glasgow International Arena. Friday night, Irish folk-rock giants The Saw Doctors take on one of their biggest headline gigs in the city to date, Saturday night will welcome Indian composer AR Rahman for a spectacular orchestral collaboration, Rangreza with British talents Rushil Ranjan and Abi Sampa. the first time the show that bridges the gap between Western and Indian classical music has been performed in the UK outside of London’s Royal Albert Hall.

One of the most widely regarded live performers in contemporary music, José González, will play Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. The international star is best-known for his cover of Heartbeats, which has earned him over 1 billion streams to date. Irish accordionist Sharon Shannon will play the O2 Academy with her Big Band and some very special guests including Bob Geldof.

Orchestral twist – Celtic Connections will pair folk music with Scotland’s national orchestras. This year Irish collective Ye Vagabonds backed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. King Creosote will partner with Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and experimental small- piper Brìghde Chaimbeul teams up with the Scottish Ensemble.

Tribute to Scottish folk legend Archie Fisher at City Halls; Tribute to songwriting of Joni Mitchell at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum; Fifty years on from his passing, Glasgow’s legendary folk singer Matt McGinn will be honoured at the Tron Theatre; Georgia Rose Lucas presents a special 80th anniversary tribute to her mum, British folk-rock pioneer Sandy Denny.

Trad mad – giants of Scotland and Ireland’s flourishing folk and trad scenes will put on shows across the festival’s three weeks. West coast party starters Trail West, Highland heroes Elephant Sessions, Scots singers Siobhan Miller and Kris Drever, Gaelic artists Julie Fowlis, Breabach, Kim Carnie and Irish trad stars Beoga all have headline slots.

Amazing Americana – A wealth of Americana, country and folk talent will cross the Atlantic for Celtic Connections, with chart-topping bluegrass star Sierra Hull, Seattle’s The Brudi Brothers, LA duo Milk Carton Kids, Grammy award-winning Punch Brothers.

Global beats – Sudanese singer, oud player Sulaf makes her Scottish debut Òran Mór, blending her soaring voice with electronics. Raghu Dixit, one of India's most inventive and charismatic artists brings his trio to the Drygate on the festival’s final night. Mauritanian singer, songwriter griot Noura Mint Seymali will share her exciting trance blue, star of a new generation of West African musicians Momi Maiga performs as part of World Connections at the Tramway.

Platforming new voices – This year’s three exciting young artists commissioned to create an entirely new suite of music through the New Voices initiative 2027 are small pipes player Fionnlagh Mac A' Phiocair, accordionist  Andrew Waite, and fiddle player Madeleine Stewart.

●      Óle for Asturias – the festival welcomes Spanish principality Asturias as its international partner, showcasing music from the rich folk music heritage of the region.

●      Fun for all ages – from dementia-friendly shows and school concerts to late-night, spontaneous sessions at the Festival Club and Late-Night Sessions at Drygate, the usual dynamic mix of events and experiences will be on offer.

Breabach

Kris Drever

Julie Fowlis

General tickets go on sale Thursday 8 October at celticconnections.com for the first shows confirmed for 2027, with new gigs on sale each Thursday in October. 

Delivered by Glasgow Life – the charity that leads culture, events and active living in Glasgow – the multi-award-winning festival reflects the UNESCO City of Music itself: international, creative, welcoming, packed with personality and proud of its identity. For 2027, Celtic Connections is embracing its role both as the ultimate winter blues buster. The roll out of New Roots – a £1 membership scheme for under 26s – will allow students and young music lovers to get up to 50% off tickets for selected shows.

Duncan Chisholm

Celtic Connections Creative Director Donald Shaw, who will mark 21 years at the helm of the festival, said: “January is all about embracing musical exploration, uncovering something new that takes you by surprise, and getting out and about regardless of the dark nights. This festival believes in great music, excellent company and the power of connection. That spirit of discovery and optimism runs right through the 2027 programme, with artists people will know and love, new names, unique collaborations and shows that simply won’t happen anywhere else. For 18 days, Celtic Connections will be a meeting place for cultures, ideas and a sprinkling of intangible magic, so come and get curious, we promise you won’t regret it.”

 

Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life and Convenor for Culture, Sport and International Relations for Glasgow City Council, said: “Celtic Connections is one of Scotland’s most popular festivals and a shining example of the strength, diversity and global appeal of Glasgow’s iconic music scene. It’s a source of great pride for Glasgow that thousands of visitors make their way to our UNESCO City of Music each year to experience the thrilling sights and sounds of Celtic Connections and be part of the festival’s legendary audiences. We’re looking forward to welcoming new and returning festivalgoers to another spectacular celebration of folk, roots and world music in 2027.”

Celtic Connections is supported by the Scottish Government’s Expanded Festivals Fund and Creative Scotland, and CalMac.

 

Alan Riach discussed the Scottish Renaissance Montrose at EIBF 2026

 

Professor Alan Riach

This event was chaired by Linden Bicket. along with authors Kirsty Gunn and James Robertson: In a lively panel chat. 

They discussed the Scotland of 1926  - A hundred years ago, Scottish literature was crackling with new energy. The authors revisited the Scottish Renaissance through landmark works including Hugh MacDiarmid’s A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle, the early work of Neil M Gunn (newly reissued this year), and other under-sung voices including Willa Muir and Helen Cruickshank. 

The authors pursued their deep dive into a remarkable literary moment and the writers who helped reshape Scotland’s imaginative life. 

Alan Riach said that back in the1930s, Montrose was the Paris of the north.

Alan Riach is a Scottish poet and academic. He taught at the University of Waikato in New Zealand from 1986 until 2001. He is currently the Professor of Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow. Riach was President of the association for Scottish literary Studies from 2006 to 2010 and is a regular contributor to The National. 

Kirsty Gunn

Riach writes, “Irish reunification will come. Scotland’s independence will come. The political system and its media only exist for self perpetuation. 

 

This too is ours to resist. These things will not prevail. The only reliable truths come through the arts and they remain accessible to people, discoverable, no matter how much our enemies have tried to obscure them or deny them their value and place. 

 

What gives us the hope and the drive, the sense of necessary purpose. Music, stories, poems and plays: paintings, sculpture, colour and form, our languages, all that art can do. 

 

How do we move forward. “It come with understanding, then knowledge, and then wisdom. 

In the absence of this, Imagination must be served, or it feeds on itself; then superstitions come creeping in. 

Jimmy Wales of Wikipedia at EIBF 2026

 

Jimmy Wales chatted with Heather Pony at the Edinburgh book festival 2026.. Wales is one of the top 250 leaders who shape our world. He said he started with Newpedia, which didn’t succeed.

Then the idea for a free encyclopaedia that people could trust, and that people can edit. Wikipedia was set up in 2001, as a charity when there was the hopeful world of the internet. Wikipedia now has 700 employees, and is based in San Francisco.

 

He spoke of his Triangle of Trust – empathy, authenticity, logic. “We don’t use algorithms.”   

The Five Rules of Wikipedia – the wiki foundation and the identification of best practice. 

Plus Quality, reliable source, Neutrality, Transparency, We always could do better. We must offer the best arguments, analyse things.

 

He spoke of the attacks from the Far Right. Elon Musk set up Rockopedia which failed – and which encourages extremes. 

 

Wales was asked could AI write Wikipedia? No not good enough yet and can make things up. AI is deeply flawed. AI can be useful for references. AI agents editing. CHATGpt and AI can help with coding. AI is not edited and Google AI is wrong 28% of the time. Google is a monopoly.

 

Wiki Traffic has had a 8% drop, with a 7% drop in revenue. Many now want quick answers. Plus a decline in first time editors. Wales spoke of Wiki’s Long form traffic. 

Wikipedia depends on donations, and has no Ads. Wiki is like a life raft, of trust and Wales said they work to make it better. He said that Disinformation is a problem and requires content and government regulation.

 

Wikipedia is banned in China, And in Turkey Wiki fought in the courts and won. In the Western world its important to have free dialogue – with diverse, open, free discourse in society. Wales spoke of the ownership of the media by Big tech. Jeff Bezo bought the Washington Post. Rupert Murdoch bought the Wall Street Journal. Newspapers endorse a candidate. 

 

Myths and Tales of Ossian: The Shortbread Tin

 

Images of Ossian

Myths and Tales of Ossian

There is strong evidence that the tales of the Odyssey, are based on Greek myths and legends passed down the centuries. But was Homer ever a real person? And rather part of the oral tradition. 

The tales and myths of Ossian by James Macpherson – were collated from many ancient Gaelic legends and stories.  But there are disputes over whether Ossian was ever a real person. 

At a time in the highlands when, after Culloden, the young Macpherson saw the outlawing of Scots language, music, dress and culture. These tales became popular with American presidents and European rulers and inspired the Romantic movement – he was the first Scotch Bard.

The Shortboard Tin - Is a new theatre production for the National Theatre of Scotland and explores the story of James MacPherson, who in 1750, introduced Scotland and the world to Ossian, a third century bard. He collected all the old Gaelic stories, but it was later disputed who the Ossian bard really was. 

There are many other tales, legends and myths. The tale of King Arther or Robin Hood – were they authentic or real? There’s much dispute over where king Arthur actually lived – or who Robin Hood actually was – did he rob the rich to ever give to the poor.

King Arthur is a legendary king of England from medieval stories and folklore. He is known as a brave leader who fought enemies, gathered loyal heroes at the Round Table, and ruled from the magical court of Camelot.

The Legend

• The Sword: Arthur pulled the magic sword Excalibur from a stone to prove he was the true king.
• The Wizard: He was guided by the wise and powerful wizard Merlin.
• The Queen: He married Queen Guinevere.
• The Knights: His brave fighters sat at a Round Table so no single knight was higher than the others.
• The Quest: His knights searched far and wide for the Holy Grail. 

 

 

Is He Real?   Historians cannot prove that King Arthur was a real person. Experts think the stories might come from an early 6th-century Celtic warrior who defended England against invaders, but the tales grew much larger over hundreds of years through poems and books. 

 

• Excalibur and the Lady of the Lake
• Sir Lancelot and the fall of Camelot
• Real places in Britain linked to the Arthurian legend

Also - Robin Hood is a legendary outlaw of English folklore. He was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. He may have fought in the crusades. His lands may have been taken by the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, who assists King John.. He may have robbed the rich to give to the poor. His lover maid Marion,  

AC Grayling For the People EIBF 2026

AC Grayling gave an impressive and memorable talk at the book festival, on his book For the People – on how democracy is under threat today by the forces of authoritarianism, election interference, and loss of faith in our institutions. And on how we can all help to protect the value of the liberties of democracy. 

 

“Inequality is toxic.”

Democracy defends civil liberties, freedom of speech and the rule of law. In the 90s we thought we’d moved forward from fascism and we became complacent. That Donald Trump became the US president with his all felonies, is deeply troubling. No one is above the law. There is the Far Rights push back against liberal ideas, 

He spoke of Abraham Lincoln’s famous short speech at Gettysburg, ‘Government of the people, by the people, for the people.’ But who are the people he asked? Alexander Hamilton’s – the Electoral College was supposed to be a barrier to protect democracy.

At the Federal level, democracy is filtered out by the first past the post voting system – which can mean getting elected with 11 out of 100 votes. It means that 37% of votes can lead to a huge majority. There is an urgent need to look at the, both here and in the US electoral system. The House of Representatives, which is elected every two years, means they are constantly electioneering. There are two senators for each state – with a small caucus, which leads to very conservative views and is a huge drag on progress.

America is run by two parties under control of Big Money, and its all about buying seats. What will happen with Crypto? The 2^nd amendment to bear arms, was brought in back 250 years ago when it took ages to load a musket – but now?

There’s been a huge increase in inequality. A millionaire in time means 2 weeks. A billionaire in time means 32 years. The deregulation of the early 90s has meant inequality is growing. Scandinavia, with is high tax regime are investing in people. and some fairness in society. Dictators hollow out the democratic institutions and weaponise social media. All the corruption, with structures being manipulated.

“I want ‘unity’ not harmony.”

“Every time we do nothing we give ground”  …”We must keep resisting – and not accepting – and the reasons why. Defend and exchange ideas.”  We must all make a contribution, we’ve become complacent. In 1943, after the ruins of Europe and all the pain and suffering – we valued human rights and the rule of law. But now the left are fragmented. Grayling said we need root and branch change for a new constitution.

On an optimistic note Grayling said, “Dark times are times of opportunity”

(He also asked - How much water is imported to the UK – 70% - in the frim of fresh fruit and veg form countries with no water. 

Anthony Grayling is a British philosopher and author. He was born in Zambia and Malawi.From 1919 to 2011, he was Professor of Philosophy at at university London. In 2011 he became the first Master of new college of Humanities (now Northeastern University London). He is also a supernumerary fellow of st Anne’s college, Oxford. 

Grayling is the author of about 30 books on philosophy, biography, history of ideas, human rights and ethics. including The Refutation of Scepticism (1985), The Future of Moral Values (1997), Wittgenstein (1992), What Is Good? (2000), The Meaning of Things (2001), The Good Book (2011), The God Argument (2013), The Age of Genius: The Seventeenth Century and the Birth of the Modern Mind (2016) and Democracy and its Crisis (2017). Grayling was a trustee of the London Library and a fellow of the World Economic Forum, and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the Royal Society of Arts. For a number of years he was a columnist for The Guardian newspaper, and presented the BBC World Service series Exchanges at the Frontier on science and society.

Elif Shafak inspired at EIBF 2026

 “Storyland is my home “-  and the importance of the oral tradition. 

 

Rosie Goldmsith ably chaired her chat with British Turkish novelist Elif Shafak-  on her long and illustrious career, her 21 books of both fiction and non-fiction and growing up in a divided Turkey. 

 

This was an illuminating and challenging conversation with such a highly respected author. Shafak writes on human rights, freedom of speech and of how we must celebrate diversity. She writes in both English and Turkish. They discussed her thirty years of writing, on identity, freedom, politics and culture and her 21 books. Elif studied political science, philosophy and history. 

She spoke of how much books change us: books were another ways of existing, to consider the possibilities and connect with otherness. Elif has lived in many different countries.

BOOK *  There are Rivers in the Sky                    

Elif first published at 17 and she spoke of the pull of story telling. She said that Turkish is multi-layered – we should use both old and new words. In Turkey Persian and Arabic words were taken out. (much as Scots and Scots Gaelic was banned here)

If we leave our comfort zone our mind is nurtured. We must not be pushed into boxes. We should journey into other realms – and dismantle glass walls. There is a collective amnesia in Turkey (that sounds like Scotland also!), with nostalgia for the great empire. Minorities are enriching, with multiple identities – with bigger circles, regions, artists circles – and with one human race. multiplicity. Certain sense of loss.

Istanbul is her great love  - “I carry Istanbul with me'  Shafak left Istanbul after a controversy over her books and views. She said there are multiple Istanbul’s – where is home, where is exile? She feels very connected to Turkish culture, but not to the politics. She said we must appreciate the questions, and the importance of the silences. Burned stories in daylight.  

“Prose is like poetry – how language shapes us….English gives me cognitive dissonance”

Elif is now eighteen years in London. She spoke of how place shapes us – and that her children have friends of all religions, and diversity. And that Turkey doesn’t appreciate its diversity. 

BOOK * Three daughters of Eve

Elif was brought up by her grandmother and learned folktales, oral culture, lullabies, superstitions. She was both restricted and resilient. Elif spoke of the importance of the “Love with water families, who witness our journeys.”  Of faith and love.

“People who are certain of the truth scare me.” This is an age of anxiety – everyone is struggling. “We need to sit down and reassemble ourselves.”  We need to slow down, the world is spinning. And Trump’s calling people “losers” – there is no such thing.”  She spoke of the polarization and suffering today..

BOOK *Alternative history of Gustave Flaubert – Creativity in a time of chaos. 

She is influenced by both Middle eastern culture and European novel. There is no knowledge of Roman empire in Turkey, Elif said inter-cultural dialogue was important. 

Elif Shafak has published 21 books, including 13 acclaimed novels, and been translated into 58 languages. Following a sold out event discussing There are Rivers in the Sky in 2024, today’s special celebratory event sees Shafak – a powerful advocate for women’s and LGBTQ+ rights and freedom of speech – reflects on her rich career to date, what it means to be a truly global author and citizen, and the impact of putting her personal and political beliefs into tangible action. 

Human rights  Shafak's novels have explored human rights issues, particularly those in Turkey. She has said: "What literature tries to do is to re-humanize people who have been dehumanized ... People whose voices we never hear. That's a big part of my work".  Specific topics have included persecution of Yazidis, the Armenian genocide  and the treatment of various minorities. 

Shafak is an advocate for freedom of expression. While taking part in the Free Speech Debate, she commented: "I am more interested in showing the things we have in common as fellow human beings, sharing the same planet and ultimately, the same sorrows and joys rather than adding yet another brick in the imaginary walls erected between cultures/religions/ethnicities." 

She is best known for her novels, which include The Bastard of Istanbul, The Forty Rules of Love, Three Daughters of Eve, 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World, and The Island of Missing Trees. As of 2025, her work had been translated into almost sixty languages, and nominated for several literary awards. She has been described by the Financial Times as "Turkey's leading female novelist", with several of her works having been bestsellers in Turkey and internationally.