In One Brief Moment All Eternity by Elif Shafak

Who gets to tell a story—and whose voices are lost to history?

From Booker-shortlisted, internationally bestselling author Elif Shafak comes In One Brief Moment All Eternity, a bold and imaginative novel that reimagines the life and legacy of celebrated French writer Gustave Flaubert through the perspectives of the women who shaped him.

During an era of political upheaval and social transformation, Gustave Flaubert created one of literature's most controversial heroines: Emma Bovary. Yet behind the celebrated author lies another story—one shaped by the women whose lives, experiences, and voices have often been overlooked. What if, 175 years later, Emma and the women history forgot could take up the pen themselves and tell a different story?

Through the perspectives of a devoted nursemaid, an Egyptian dancer, and a passionate, jealous lover determined not to be forgotten, Elif Shafak creates an intimate portrait of an extraordinary artist while exploring the power of storytelling itself. Their voices challenge the boundaries between fact and fiction, memory and imagination, asking who gets remembered, who gets erased, and whose truths remain untold.

The novel takes readers on an extraordinary journey across time and continents. From Flaubert's unusual childhood in a house that served as a home, hospital, and morgue to nineteenth-century Paris during the Revolution, the narrative travels onward to Istanbul, Cairo, Palestine, and Beirut. Across these settings, Shafak weaves together questions of identity, belonging, injustice, and the enduring power of literature.

As political turmoil, war, and social divisions reshape the world around them, the characters' stories reveal how literature can preserve memories, challenge established narratives, and give a voice to those pushed to the margins. The novel asks profound questions about whose experiences become part of history and how humanity can find hope when the world feels broken.

Boldly inventive, richly layered, and deeply human, In One Brief Moment All Eternity is a moving meditation on forgotten lives, silenced voices, and the stories that survive across generations. It is a celebration of literature's ability to connect people across cultures, centuries, and continents—and a reminder that every untold story deserves the chance to be heard.

Why You'll Love This Book

• An imaginative re-examination of Gustave Flaubert and the literary legacy of Madame Bovary.

• Multiple perspectives that bring overlooked women and forgotten voices to the forefront.

• A sweeping narrative spanning Paris, Istanbul, Cairo, Palestine, and Beirut.

• Thought-provoking themes of memory, identity, power, injustice, and storytelling.

• A rich blend of historical fiction, literary imagination, and social commentary.

Feel free to create additional blocks like this for Shipping, Payments, etc through the Shopify Theme editor. Also, you may easily adjust their order by dragging and dropping.

To return an item to us, follow the directions listed on the return exchange form included with your order. If you don’t have this form available, you can download one by clicking here