The Bastard Of Istanbul

In her second novel written in English, Elif Shafak confronts her country’s violent past in a vivid and colourful tale set in both Turkey and the United States. 

"Zesty, imaginative... a Turkish version of Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club."   -  USA Today 

Populated with vibrant characters, The Bastard of Istanbul is 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 humour and understanding, this exuberant, dramatic novel is about memory and forgetting, the tension between the need to examine the past & the desire to erase it, and vigorous unforgettable female characters.

"...a great novel for female characters — even the ones who make the briefest appearances are rounded and whole. Reading the passages about them leaves you with the sense of having eavesdropped on real people in their homes ...a novel about Istanbul, about loving a place until its rhythms, smells, and colours are under your skin."  -  Kevin O'Kelly, The Boston Globe

The Bastard of Istanbul is a bold, powerful tale that will confirm Elif Shafak  as a rising star of international fiction.