About the Book
Ella Rubinstein is a bored, unhappily married housewife in present-day Massachusetts when her job as a literary reader brings her a manuscript about Shams of Tabriz, the wandering dervish who transformed the 13th-century poet Rumi into one of history’s greatest voices on love. As Ella becomes absorbed in the manuscript’s story — and its “forty rules of love” guiding Shams’s own spiritual journey — her own life begins to quietly unravel and transform in parallel. The Forty Rules of Love moves between these two timelines, using the historical friendship between Rumi and Shams to explore contemporary questions of faith, restlessness, and what it means to truly love.
Why Readers Love This Book
- An international bestseller from Elif Shafak, one of Turkey’s most widely translated and acclaimed novelists
- Interweaves Sufi philosophy and Rumi’s real historical relationship with Shams of Tabriz into an accessible contemporary narrative
- Structured around Shams’s “forty rules,” giving the book a distinctive, quotable framework readers return to
- Balances spiritual and philosophical depth with genuinely emotional, character-driven storytelling
Who Should Read The Forty Rules of Love
For readers drawn to literary fiction with spiritual and philosophical depth — fans of Rumi’s poetry, Sufi philosophy, and dual-timeline novels that connect the past and present through shared emotional truths.
About the Author
Elif Shafak is a Turkish-British novelist and one of the most widely read authors writing in Turkish and English, known for blending Sufi philosophy, feminism, and political themes across her novels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Forty Rules of Love based on a true story?
It’s a work of fiction, but it’s built around the real historical relationship between the poet Rumi and the mystic Shams of Tabriz.
What are the ‘forty rules’ referenced in the title?
They’re a set of spiritual principles attributed to Shams of Tabriz within the novel, guiding his own philosophy on love and faith, woven throughout the book’s chapters.
Do I need to know about Sufism or Rumi’s poetry beforehand?
No — the novel is written to be accessible to readers with no prior background in Sufism or Rumi’s work.
What edition is this listing?
This is the Latest Edition paperback, 368 pages, published by Penguin.
Specifications
| Title | The Forty Rules of Love |
| Author | Elif Shafak |
| Publisher | Penguin |
| Publication Date | 1 January 2015 |
| Edition | Latest Edition |
| Language | English |
| Binding | Paperback |
| Pages | 368 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0241972939 |
| Weight | 255 g |
| Dimensions | 12.8 x 2.1 x 19.7 cm |
| Genre | Literary Fiction / Historical Fiction |
People Also Ask
Is The Forty Rules of Love similar to other Elif Shafak novels?
It shares her signature blend of historical and contemporary storylines and spiritual/philosophical themes found across her other novels.
Who was Shams of Tabriz in real history?
Shams of Tabriz was a wandering dervish and mystic whose relationship with the poet Rumi profoundly shaped Rumi’s later poetry and spiritual philosophy.
Is this book considered a good introduction to Rumi’s philosophy?
Many readers use it as an accessible entry point into Rumi and Sufi thought, though it’s a novel rather than a direct translation of his poetry or teachings.
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