Description

“The Forty Rules of Love” is a novel by Elif Shafak that weaves together two parallel stories: one set in contemporary America and the other in thirteenth-century Persia. The contemporary story follows a housewife named Ella Rubinstein, who becomes a reader for a literary agency and is assigned to review a manuscript titled “Sweet Blasphemy” by a mystic named Aziz Zahara. The manuscript tells the story of Rumi, the thirteenth-century Sufi poet, and his relationship with his spiritual mentor, Shams of Tabriz. As Ella delves deeper into the manuscript, she begins to question her own life choices and embark on a journey of self-discovery.

About the author

Elif Shafak is a Turkish-British writer and academic who has published seventeen books, including eleven novels. She is known for her ability to blend Eastern and Western literary traditions and explore complex themes such as identity, politics, and religion. Shafak’s work has been translated into fifty languages and has received numerous awards and honors. She has also been a vocal advocate for human rights and free expression, and has been recognized for her contributions to global cultural understanding.