10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World

Content Warning: This section discusses human trafficking and mistreatment of sex workers.

Shafak is an acclaimed British Turkish author who has gained international recognition for her complex, thought-provoking works of fiction. Shafak was born in Strasbourg, France, in 1971, and she has lived in the United States, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Shafak’s unique life experiences have provided her with a diverse cultural perspective that is present in her writing. Shafak holds a PhD in political science and is an honorary fellow at Oxford University, Saint Anne’s College.

Shafak has published 17 books, 11 of which are novels, and she is the most widely read female author in Turkey. Shafak’s work has been shortlisted for the 2019 Booker Prize and the 2020 RSL Ondaatje Prize. She was named the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government for her contributions to literature. Shafak is an advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights, women’s rights, and freedom of speech. Her novels often explore themes such as identity, history, gender inequality, and spirituality while blending narrative conventions and genre. Using her lyrical prose and vivid