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Elif Şafak, whose real name is Elif Bilgin, was born on October 25, 1971, in Strasbourg, France. She is one of contemporary Turkish literature's most recognized and widely read authors. Daughter of academic Nuri Bilgin, a social psychologist, and diplomat Şafak Atayman, Şafak spent her childhood and youth with her mother in various cities after her parents' divorce. She has lived in many places, including Ankara, Madrid, Amman, Cologne, Istanbul, Boston, Michigan, and Arizona. This diverse background has been central to her works' themes of cultural identity, belonging, and alienation. Her education mirrored her dynamic lifestyle, having attended schools in several cities, including Kubilay Primary School in Ankara (1982), Runnymede College in Madrid (1986), and Atatürk Anatolian High School in Ankara (1989).

Education and Academic Career

Elif Şafak completed her undergraduate studies in International Relations at Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) in 1994 and later pursued a master's degree in Women's Studies and Gender at the same university. Her thesis, "Destructuring woman in İslam within the context of Bektashi and Mawlawi thought," won the Social Sciences Association Award (1996). She completed her PhD in Political Science at ODTÜ, focusing on Turkish Modernization and Masculinity Discourses (2004). Throughout her academic career, she has taught at universities in Türkiye, the United States, and the United Kingdom. She worked as a research assistant at Bilgi University, teaching courses such as "Ottoman History," "Türkiye and Cultural Identities," and "Women and Writing." She was a visiting professor at the University of Michigan (2003-2004) and later at Oxford University in 2018. She holds an honorary membership at Oxford/St. Anne's College and has received an honorary doctorate from Bard College. She continues her work at the University of Arizona.

Literary Career and Early Works

Elif Şafak's literary debut came with her short story collection Kem Gözlere Anadolu (1994), which focused on the mythological and historical aspects of Anatolia. However, the book was considered too raw and was not republished. Her first novel, Pinhan (1997), tells the mystical journey of a hermaphroditic dervish during the Ottoman period and won the 1998 Mevlana Grand Prize. Her later novels, such as Şehrin Aynaları (1999) and Mahrem (2000), received critical acclaim for their layered narratives, although Mahrem was regarded as complex by some readers.

Rise to Prominence and Controversies

Şafak gained wider recognition with her 2002 novel Bit Palas, which depicts the lives of apartment residents in 1960s Türkiye. Her 2004 English-language novel The Flea Palace addresses identity crises faced by a Turkish student in the US. Baba ve Piç (2006) stirred controversy due to its portrayal of intertwined Turkish and Armenian family histories, leading to a trial for "insulting Turkishness." However, she was acquitted due to lack of evidence, which increased her profile both in Türkiye and internationally.

International Success and Recent Works

Elif Şafak's international success continued with novels like İskender (2011), which explores immigration and East-West conflicts, and Ustam ve Ben (2013), a historical novel about the life of the architect Mimar Sinan. Havva’nın Üç Kızı (2016) became one of the most-read books of the year, while On Dakika Otuz Sekiz Saniye (2019) won several prestigious awards, including the Blackwell Book of the Year Award.

Personal Life and Writing Style

Elif Şafak is married to journalist Eyüp Can and has two children, Şehrazat Zelda and Emir Zahir. She divides her time between London and Istanbul and writes her works in both Turkish and English. She is known for her multi-layered storytelling, exploring themes like mysticism, history, identity, and womanhood. Although some critics find her works too populist or superficial, her broad readership and international recognition attest to her significant impact on the literary world.

Awards

1998 Mevlânâ Büyük Ödülü
Work: Pinhan
Description: This award for her first novel marked Elif Şafak's powerful entry into the literary world.
2000 Türkiye Yazarlar Birliği Ödülü
Work: Mahrem
Description: Her postmodern novel was recognized for its originality in Turkish literature.
Sosyal Bilimler Derneği Ödülü
Date: 1996
Description: Awarded for her master’s thesis titled The Fragmentation of the Female Conception in Islam within the Context of Bektashi and Mevlevi Thought.
2010 Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (French Order of Arts and Letters)
Description: A prestigious medal awarded by France for her literary and artistic contributions.
2019 Blackwell Book of the Year Award
Work: On Dakika Otuz Sekiz Saniye
Description: This award was given for the novel's impactful narrative of a prostitute’s final moments.
2019 Booker Prize Finalist
Work: On Dakika Otuz Sekiz Saniye
Description: Reaching the final of one of the most prestigious international literary awards, cementing her global success.
2021 Costa Book Award Finalist
Work: Kayıp Ağaçlar Adası
Description: A novel that tells the story of a Cypriot family from the perspective of a fig tree, reaching the final of this award.
2021 Women’s Prize Finalist
Work: Kayıp Ağaçlar Adası
Description: A finalist for this award focusing on works by female authors.
2021 RSL Ondaatje Prize Finalist
Work: Kayıp Ağaçlar Adası
Description: A finalist for this award highlighting the relationship between literature and place.
2021 British Book Awards Nominee
Work: Kayıp Ağaçlar Adası
Description: Nominated for one of the UK’s most prestigious literary awards.
2021 Dublin Literary Award Nominee
Work: Kayıp Ağaçlar Adası
Description: Nominated for this internationally recognized award.
2021 Halldór Laxness International Literary Award
Description: This award, given by Iceland, recognizes Elif Şafak's overall impact on literature.
Bard College Honorary Doctorate
Description: Awarded by Bard College in the U.S. for her academic and literary contributions.

Notes

Elif Şafak’s works have also been featured in prestigious lists such as The Economist’s Best Books of the Year, The Times 50 Recommended Books, and Sunday Times Bestsellers.
In 2017, she was selected by Politico as one of the "12 People Who Will Make the World a Better Place," and in 2019, her novel Aşk made it to BBC’s 100 Books that Shaped Our World list, reflecting significant recognition even beyond awards.
Some of these awards have been given for individual works, while others reflect her overall career success.

Books

Elif Şafak's entrance into the literary world began with her first work published in 1994, and since then, she has produced numerous works in genres such as novels, short stories, essays, and children's books. Her works have been written in both Turkish and English, translated into 54 languages, and published by prestigious publishers like Penguin and Random House. Below is a list of all of Shafak’s books in order of publication:

Kem Gözlere Anadolu (To the Evil Eyes of Anatolia)
Genre: Short Story
Publisher: Evrensel Yayınları / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 1994
Description: This is her first work, dealing with the mythological and historical elements of Anatolia in a fairy-tale style; it was not republished by the author as it was deemed "raw."
Pinhan (The Gaze)
Genre: Novel
Publisher: İletişim Yayınları / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 1997
Description: It explores the mystical journey of a hermaphroditic dervish in the Ottoman Empire; it won the 1998 Mevlânâ Büyük Ödülü (Mevlana Grand Prize).
Şehrin Aynaları (The Mirrors of the City)
Genre: Novel
Publisher: İletişim Yayınları / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 1999
Description: It tells the story of a Jewish young man who converts to another religion in the 17th century, framed within a historical narrative.
Mahrem (Privacy)
Genre: Novel
Publisher: Metis Yayınları / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2000
Description: It features a postmodern structure, emphasizing the role of the act of "seeing" in human life; it won the Türkiye Writers' Union Award.
Bit Palas (The Flea Palace)
Genre: Novel
Publisher: Metis Yayınları / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2002
Description: This novel deals with the lives of the residents of an apartment building in 1960s Türkiye, told through a multi-layered narrative; it reached a wide audience.
Suçlu Öyküler (Guilty Stories)
Genre: Short Story (Contributed a chapter from Mahrem)
Publisher: Okuyan Us Yayınları / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2003
Araf (The Saint of Incipient Insanities)
Genre: Novel (Originally published in English)
Publisher: Metis Yayınları / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2004
Description: It deals with the identity crisis of a Turkish student studying in the U.S., written in a simple style.
Beşpeşe (Five in a Row)
Genre: Novel (Co-authored with Murathan Mungan, Faruk Ulay, Celil Oker, and Pınar Kür)
Publisher: Metis Yayınları / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2004
Med-Cezir (Mediterranean Tides)
Genre: Essay
Publisher: Metis Yayınları / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2005
Description: It includes writings on womanhood, identity, cultural division, and literature.
Baba ve Piç (The Bastard of Istanbul)
Genre: Novel (Originally published in English)
Publisher: Metis Yayınları / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2006
Description: It addresses the intertwined stories of Turkish and Armenian families; the book led to a lawsuit under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, but the author was acquitted.
Siyah Süt (Black Milk)
Genre: Novel (Autobiographical)
Publisher: Doğan Kitap / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2007
Description: It narrates the conflict between motherhood and writing in a straightforward style.
Aşk (The Forty Rules Of Love)
Genre: Novel
Publisher: Doğan Kitap / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2009
Description: It combines the Mevlana-Shems relationship with the modern search for love; it sold nearly 1 million copies and made it to the BBC's "100 Novels That Shaped Our World" list.
Kâğıt Helva (Wafer)
Genre: Anthology
Publisher: Doğan Kitap / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2009
Description: It contains selections from her previous works.
Firarperest (The Escapee)
Genre: Essay
Publisher: Doğan Kitap / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2010
Description: It is a collection of newspaper articles.
İskender (Alexander)
Genre: Novel (Originally written in English)
Publisher: Doğan Kitap / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2011
Description: It addresses immigration and East-West conflicts around the theme of honor killings.
Şemspare (Shamspare)
Genre: Essay
Publisher: Doğan Kitap / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2012
Description: It includes writings on womanhood, travel, and contemporary topics.
Ustam ve Ben (The Architect's Apprentice)
Genre: Novel (Originally written in English)
Publisher: Doğan Kitap / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2013
Description: It tells the story of the life of the architect Sinan, framed within a historical narrative; some consider it her weakest work.
Sakız Sardunya (Chios Geranium)
Genre: Children’s Book
Publisher: Doğan ve Egmont Yayınları / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2016
Description: A children's story about the love of books.
Havva’nın Üç Kızı (Three Daughters of Eve)
Genre: Novel
Publisher: Doğan Kitap / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2016
Description: It deals with themes of faith and patriarchal society from a feminist perspective. It is one of the most-read novels of the year.
Sanma ki Yalnızsın (Do Not Think You Are Alone)
Genre: Essay
Publisher: Doğan Kitap / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2018
Aşkın Kırk Kuralı (The Forty Rules of Love)
Genre: Novel (Adapted from a romance)
Publisher: Doğan Kitap / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2019
On Dakika Otuz Sekiz Saniye (Ten Minutes and Thirty-Eight Seconds in This Strange World)
Genre: Novel (Originally written in English, translated to Turkish)
Publisher: Doğan Kitap / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2019
Description: It tells the final moments of a prostitute's life; it won the Blackwell Book of the Year Award and was a finalist for the Booker Prize.
Bölünmüş Bir Dünyada Akıl Sağlığımızı Nasıl Koruruz (How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division)
Genre: Essay (Translated as How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division)
Publisher: Doğan Kitap / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2022
Translator: Omca A. Korugan
Description: It seeks tranquility amidst the chaos of the modern world.
Kayıp Ağaçlar Adası (The Island of Missing Trees)
Genre: Novel (Translated as The Island of Missing Trees)
Publisher: Doğan Kitap / Istanbul
Year of Publication: 2023
Translator: Omca A. Korugan
Description: It tells the story of a Cypriot family from the perspective of a fig tree; it has been a finalist for the Costa Book Award and the Women’s Prize for Fiction.