Elif Shafak
Né(e): October 25, 1971 – Strasbourg, Grand Est, France
Elif Shafak is a Turkish-British novelist and essayist whose work explores identity, memory, migration, gender, and politics. Her notable books include The Bastard of Istanbul, 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World, and The Island of Missing Trees. She is widely translated and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.
Biographie et Parcours de l'Auteur
Elif Shafak was born in Strasbourg on October 25, 1971, to Turkish parents, but her childhood was shaped less by rootedness than by movement. After her parents separated, she was raised largely by her mother and maternal grandmother in Ankara, in a female-led household that left a lasting mark on her understanding of gender, faith, and belonging. Diplomatic postings later took her to Madrid, Jordan, and Germany, and the repeated experience of displacement helped form the outsider’s perspective that runs through much of her fiction. In her late teens, she replaced her father’s surname with her mother’s first name, and she went on to study international relations, gender and women’s studies, and political science at Middle East Technical University. ((https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elif-Shafak))
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Voix de la Communauté
"Elif Shafak is a unique and powerful voice in world literature"
— Ian McEwan
"Elif Shafak's lyrical command of language and narrative is breathtaking"
— Helena Kennedy
"It will make you think, cry, rage – and hope. It is Elif Shafak at her best"
— The New Statesman
"Elif Shafak is one of the great writers of our time"
— Peter Frankopan
"Elif Shafak continues to resist Turkey’s repressive government with brilliant fiction"
— The Washington Post
"Elif Shafak's extraordinary 10 Minutes, 38 Seconds in This Strange World is a work of brutal beauty and consummate tenderness"
— Simon Schama
"Elif Shafak brings into the written realm what so many others want to leave outside"
— Colum McCann
"The Island of Missing Trees is Elif Shafak's best work yet"
— The New York Times Book Review
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Cree par des anciens de Columbia University a San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
