The Bastard of Istanbul

When The Bastard of Istanbulwas published in Turkey, Elif Shafak was accused by nationalist lawyers of insulting Turkish identity. The charges were later dropped, and now readers in America can discover for themselves this bold and powerful tale. Populated with vibrant characters, The Bastard of Istanbulis the story of two families, one Turkish and one Armenian American, and their struggle to forge their unique identities against the backdrop of Turkey’s violent history. Filled with humor and understanding, this exuberant, dramatic novel is about memory and forgetting, about the tension between the need to examine the past and the desire to erase it.

Elif Shafak is the award-winning author of five previous novels and a collection of essays. She has written for numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and The Wall Street Journal.