The Architect's Apprentice

Synopsis

The novel uses an episodic structure. At age 12, Jahan flees his abusive stepfather by boat and arrives in Istanbul with a young white elephant, a gift for the sultan from India. As part of a rogue captain's plan to steal from the palace, Jahan is led to pose as its mahout. He cares for the elephant, named Chota, at the palace menagerie.

Growing up, he befriends Mihrimah, the sultan's daughter, and falls in love with her, though his lower social status prevents any prospect of marriage. He becomes an apprentice to Sinan alongside Davud, Nikola and Yusuf, assisting with projects including mosques, bridges, waterworks, an observatory, and the restoration of the Hagia Sophia. The book spans the reigns of Suleiman I, Selim II and Murad III, and Jahan visits Michelangelo during a trip to Rome.

Reception

The book received positive reviews in English-speaking media, while The Guardian noted its chilly reception in Turkey. Anita Sethi, reviewing for The Guardian, called it an intricate, multilayered new novel that excels in resplendent details and grand design, and described it as emotionally forceful. In The New York Times, Christopher Atamian wrote that Shafak unfurls what may be her most accomplished novel. The novel was shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature's Ondaatje Prize in 2015.