Elif Şafak
Elif Şafak: A Turkish Author's Journey to Global Acclaim
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Elif Şafak is a renowned Turkish author, known professionally as Elif Shafak. Her writing career spans multiple genres, including novels, essays, and children's books.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on January 25, 1971, in Strasbourg, France, Şafak currently resides in Istanbul, Turkey.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Şafak holds dual Turkish-French citizenship. As a writer, she has established herself as a versatile author of fiction and non-fiction works, often exploring themes related to identity, culture, and politics.
Early Life and Background
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Growing up in a multicultural environment, Şafak's family moved frequently during her childhood due to her father's diplomatic career. This nomadic lifestyle instilled in her a unique perspective on cultures and identities, influencing her writing style significantly.
Şafak's early fascination with storytelling led her to write her first novel at the age of 12. Her passion for literature only intensified as she grew older, eventually enrolling in the University of Strasbourg and later completing her M.A. in English Literature at the University of East Anglia in England.
Major Accomplishments
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Throughout her career, Şafak has received numerous accolades for her writing:
She won the 2017 Orhan Pamuk International Literature Award for _The Flea Palace_.
Her novel _The Forty Rules of Love_ was shortlisted for the 2013 IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.
In 2019, Şafak received an honorary doctorate from the University of East Anglia.Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Şafak's most notable works include:
_The Flea Palace_, a novel exploring themes of identity and social change in modern Turkey.
_The Forty Rules of Love_, which delves into the intersection of love, mysticism, and culture.
_The Architect's Apprentice_, a historical fiction novel set during the reign of Süleyman the Magnificent.
Impact and Legacy
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Elif Şafak has made significant contributions to Turkish literature and beyond:
Her writing often challenges traditional notions of identity, culture, and politics, sparking important conversations worldwide.
As an advocate for women's rights and education, Şafak has been involved in various charitable initiatives.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Elif Şafak is widely quoted and remembered due to her:
Unique perspective on identity and culture, which she skillfully weaves into her writing.
Passion for storytelling, evident throughout her diverse range of works, from novels to essays.
* Commitment to social causes, demonstrated through her advocacy work and charitable initiatives.
In conclusion, Elif Şafak is a multifaceted author whose writing career has had a profound impact on the literary world. Her experiences as a child of diplomacy have shaped her perspective on cultures and identities, influencing her writing style and contributing to her global recognition. Through her notable works and actions, Şafak continues to inspire readers worldwide with her thought-provoking narratives and advocacy for social causes.
Quotes by Elif Şafak
I realized over the years if I'm writing about humor, irony, satire, I much prefer to do that in English. And if there is sorrow, melancholy, longing, I much prefer to do that in Turkish. Each language has its own strength to me, and I feel connected and attached to both Turkish and English. I dream in more than one language.
Writing is a tribute to solitude. It is choosing introversion over extroversion, lonely hours/days/weeks/years over fun and sociability.
When societies go backwards and slide into authoritarianism, nationalism, and tribalism, machismo and sexism are also emboldened.
Writing in another language gives me an additional freedom, an additional way of thinking. It's a challenge, but I like the challenge.
With 'The Forty Rules of Love,' I wanted to write a love story. But I wanted a love story with a spiritual dimension. For me, that took me to Rumi. And from Rumi, I went to Shams of Tabriz. That's how the story took shape.
Politicians and leaders who see the media as 'the enemy within' divide society into two clashing cultural camps. Populist demagogues benefit from binary oppositions.
The only way to learn writing is by writing. Talent, as charming as it sounds, amounts to no more than 12 per cent of the process. Work is 80 per cent. The remaining 8 per cent is 'luck' or 'zeitgeist' - in short, things that are not in our hands.
I write my novels in English first; then they are translated into Turkish by professional translators. Then I take their translation and rewrite. So basically, I write the same novel twice.
When I looked at people like Goya and Pina Bausch, the message I got was just do what you're passionate about. Don't think about what other people are going to say or how they're going to receive your work. Just be your work.
Part of me always felt like the other, the outsider, the observer. My father had two sons with his second wife, who I didn't meet until my late 20s. I was always on the periphery. In Madrid, I was the only Turk in a very international school, so I had to start thinking about identity. All these things affected me.