“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.
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.
