The Essential - Elif Shafak and Tahmima Anam | JLF London

Elif Shafak and Tahmima Anam in conversation with Bee Rowlatt Navigating through their writing journey and experiences, two extraordinary authors give us a glimpse into their inspirations and process. Booker Prize-shortlisted author Elif Shafak explores the dichotomy and nuances she brings alive with her words. A women's rights activist, an inspirational public intellectual and speaker, her latest book is The Island of Missing Trees. Celebrated author Tahimam Anam’s books include The Bones of Grace and The Start Up Wife. Deftly weaving the personal and the political, Anam’s writing is known to illuminate, challenge and question. Her first novel, A Golden Age, was the Best First Book winner of the 2008 Commonwealth Writers' Prize. Her follow-up novel, The Good Muslim, was nominated for the 2011 Man Asian Literary Prize. Shafak and Anam speak to Bee Rowlatt about their enthralling books, their origins and the powerful symbolism behind each character they have brought to life.