Book Debrief - Madonna in a Fur Coat by Sabahattin Ali

Sabahattin Ali’s novel “Madonna in a Fur Coat,” written in 1943, focuses on the life of a clerk who constantly keeps himself away from the outside world and immerses himself in silence. Born and raised in Havran, Raif Efendi decides to study art after some time and leaves his hometown. Throughout his journey from Istanbul to Berlin, he maintains his silence, refrains from expressing his thoughts, or does not find them worth sharing. In Berlin, he crosses paths with Maria Puder, who breaks Raif Efendi’s silence and drags him into a captivating love. The novel explores Raif Efendi’s liberation from his loneliness and the passion that Maria Puder ignites in him.