in Turkey. Her second novel, Şehrin Aynaları (Mirrors of the City),
brings together Jewish and Islamic mysticism against a historical
setting in the 17th century Mediterranean. Shafak greatly increased
her readership with her novel Mahrem (The Gaze), which earned her
the "Best Novel-Turkish Writers' Union Prize" in 2000. Her next
novel, Bit Palas (The Flea Palace), has been a bestseller in Turkey
and was shortlisted for the Independent Best Fiction Award.
Shafak' wrote her next novel in English. The Saint of Incipient
Insanities was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Her second
novel written in English is The Bastard of Istanbul, which was the
bestselling book of 2006 in Turkey and was longlisted for the Orange
prize. The novel, which tells the story of an Armenian and a Turkish
family through the eyes of women, brought Shafak under prosecution
but the charges were ultimately dismissed.
Following the birth of her daughter in 2006 she suffered from postnatal depression, an experience she addressed in her first
autobiographical book, Black Milk. In this book Shafak explored the
beauties and difficulties of being a writer and a mother. The book was
received with great interest and acclaim by critics and readers alike,
being an instant bestseller.
Shafak's next novel focused on Love and love –East & West, past &
present, spiritual & mundane, all in the light of Rumi and Shams of
Tabriz. The Forty Rules of Love sold over 750 k copies, becoming an
all time best-seller in Turkey and in France awarded with the Prix
ALEF - Mention Spéciale Littérature Etrangère. It is also nominated
for 2012 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.
Her latest novel published in English, Iskender (Honour), has topped
the best-seller lists and has been acclaimed by both critics and readers
of various ages and backgrounds. The novel has opened up a vivid
debate in Turkey about family, love, freedom, redemption and the
construct of masculinity. It is the winner of the 2013 Prix Relay des
voyageurs in France; nominated for 2012 Man Asian Literary Prize,
2013 Women’s Prize for Fiction and 2014 International IMPAC
Dublin Literary Award.
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Le portrait magazine