THE EVER-SURPRISING ELIF SHAFAK: “THERE ARE RIVERS IN THE SKY”
THE EVER-SURPRISING ELIF SHAFAK: “THERE ARE RIVERS IN THE SKY”

Summary/Abstract: Elif Shafak’s new novel, the story of a lost poem, published in 2024, surprises the readers again. Not only does it focus on a host of historical-cultural issues, but it also creates a very subtle, complex narrative structure. The time span encapsulated in the novel astonishes by its vastness: the novel starts with Arthur’s birth on the banks of the River Thames during Queen Victoria’s reign. The other two narrative threads, closely interwoven with the former, jumps to our times, 2014 and 2018, by the River Tigris and the River Thames, unfolding Narin’s and Zaleekhah’s life stories, respectively. This article aims at following the intricate design of the three storylines, while trying to reveal the versatility and rich imagery of Shafak’s truly amazing prose.

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