Writer Elif Shafak never takes the easy route. “World history shows we should be careful whenever anyone promises simple answers to complex questions, ” she says, speaking with characteristic precision. Whether teaching at the University of Oxford, lecturing on women’s rights or writing one of the many novels and essays that have made her Turkey’s most read female writer, she is an uncompromising public intellectual. Here, the Honor and Three Daughters of Eve author discusses what we can learn from This story is from Kinfolk Issue Twenty-Nine Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 49 Jenny Odell The acclaimed author in search of lost time. Arts & Culture Issue 47 Julia Bainbridge On the life-enhancing potential of not drinking alcohol. Arts & Culture Issue 45 Lisa Taddeo On writing the secret lives of women. Arts & Culture Issue 43 The Science of Fiction How Amazon is rewriting the novel. Arts & Culture Issue 42 Torrey Peters The Detransition, Baby author is living her best life. Arts & Culture Issue 39 Nic Stone How can a young adult fiction author tackle racism, inequality and incarceration—but not rob teen readers of their optimism?
Arts & Culture Issue 39 Nic Stone How can a young adult fiction author tackle racism, inequality and incarceration—but not rob teen readers of their optimism?