Elif Shafak

Elif Shafak, born in Strasbourg, is a British-Turkish writer. She has published numerous novels and writes in English and Turkish. Her best-known works include The Forty Rules of Love, The Architect’s Apprentice, 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World and The Island of Missing Trees. 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, while The Island of Missing Trees was shortlisted for several major awards, including the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Shafak holds a doctorate in political science and has taught at universities in Turkey, the United States and the United Kingdom. She received the French order Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, the Halldór Laxness International Literature Prize and, in 2024, the British Academy President’s Medal. She also spoke twice at TEDGlobal.