There Are Rivers in the Sky is a novel by Elif Shafak that interweaves the lives of three characters across different time periods, all connected by the enduring legacy of the Epic of Gilgamesh and their respective struggles for survival, identity, and meaning.
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Book Blurb
In ancient Nineveh, King Ashurbanipal built a great library that crumbled with his reign, but from its ruins emerged the Epic of Gilgamesh.
This poem connects three lives across time: Arthur, born in 1840 London, escapes his harsh upbringing through his talent and a book about Nineveh; Narin, a Yazidi girl in 2014 Turkey, faces a race against time and ISIS to be baptised before going deaf; and Zaleekah, a hydrologist in 2018 London, finds new purpose in a book about her homeland after planning to end her life.
About the Author
Elif Shafak is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author. Her works have been translated into 55 languages and are hugely popular across the world.
Shafak holds a PhD in political science and she has taught at various universities in Turkey, the US and the UK. She has also taught at St Anne’s College, Oxford University, where she is an honorary fellow.
When you think of Elif Shakak books, you’re probably most likely to think of her bestselling fiction novels but she has also written nonfiction books.
What to read next
If you enjoy books by Elif Shafak, you may also enjoyed books by Christy Lefteri such as Songbirds and The Book of Fire.
Has Elif Shafak written any other books?
Elif Shafak has written several other novels and non-fiction books. I have a complete list of her books below if you’re interested in finding out more.
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