July 26, 2025/ANKARA — Muhittin Çiftçi’s critically acclaimed novel Sessiz Sofra (The Silent Table), originally published in Türkiye in 2025, is attracting growing global interest for its masterful depiction of unspoken pain within a traditional Anatolian family. Translated excerpts and reviews in English, German, and French literary journals have sparked conversations about cultural silence as a universal theme.
The novel unfolds during a multi-generational family dinner where rituals of food and tradition mask deep-seated resentments, grief, and secrets. Çiftçi’s sparse yet evocative prose turns the dining table into a silent battlefield, reflecting tensions between rural traditions and modern disillusionment. Academics have lauded the work as "a microcosm of Turkey’s social psyche" .
Author Muhittin Çiftçi, born in Adana and now based in Ankara, draws from his Anatolian roots to craft narratives that bridge local experiences with global emotional truths.
International publishers are now negotiating rights, with an English full translation slated for 2026. "Çiftçi captures a silence that echoes beyond Turkish culture—it’s about what families don’t say everywhere,"
As discussions on mental health and communication barriers gain traction worldwide, The Silent Table offers a timely, culturally rich lens into the power of what remains unsaid.
Key Themes in Sessiz Sofra:
Cultural Silence: Tradition as an enforcer of emotional suppression.
Family Dynamics: Intergenerational trauma and unspoken expectations.
Anatólia’s Soul: Rural Turkey as a character reflecting change and resilience.
Minimalist Storytelling: Using sparse dialogue to amplify tension.
Çiftçi continues to write from Ankara, with Sessiz Sofra serving as his breakthrough work. His upcoming projects reportedly explore migration and memory in post-industrial Turkish towns.
