Cambridge Literary Festival: Elif Shafak

Go All In to the books that have inspired the life and works of Festival Honorary Patron Elif Shafak...

... and find out which books have influenced and engaged one of our greatest international writers. A British-Turkish novelist and storyteller, Elif is also an advocate for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and freedom of expression. Her latest novel There Are Rivers in the Sky spans centuries and continents, and was shortlisted for the 2025 Orwell Prize for Political Fiction.