Madonna in a Fur Coat

by Ali Sabahattin, Melike Öneş (Translator), Melike Melis (Foreword)

209 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 18, 2026

Reviews

[Arshiyah Rashid]

A couple of things: I love a preface and really enjoyed the introduction. I liked the monologues of both Raif and Maria and how they explored their own personal intricacies of thought and internal conflict that we face when navigating the complexities of love. And lastly, long live the yearners

[ennui]

Tore through it in a few days, precisely lonely prose and dialogue that so effectively mediates the line between insufferable and intoxicating, the kind of thing that would sweep me up and leave me wandering the cold streets too. Had to clutch the book to my chest and retell the entire plot and spoil it for my partner, immediately after finishing it on the Stansted Express. The introduction written by David Salim Sayers was interesting, and provided a lot of the political/historical context to help situate the book within a Turkish literary context. It made me want to read more of Sabahattin Ali's writing, especially considering how Madonna in a Fur Coat is a bit of an outlier, an enigma in comparison to his other works. Curiously unsure about the analogies Sayers proposes, through which the beloved Maria can be read as a metaphor for Europe and Westernisation, but would like to explore this further. Definitely recommend if you are drawn to the plotless, politics of desire, sick-dog-lover, existential, diaristic genre; especially if you're looking for an accessible and familiarly structured (Sayers has some thoughts on this too) gateway into Turkish lit.

[Sarah Puinno]

This is the saddest story I’ve ever read! Raif’s depression and loneliness is palpable through Ali’s writing. Maria’s fear of love and subsequent collapse of walls were carefully plotted. I’ve never felt more despair from a book.

[pheneloppie]

in yearning man we trust!

[Alexis Shultz]

3.4 stars - god bless raif + all those who identify w/ him and may we all find courage in joy ✨💓

[Anisha]

what to do with the tropes? all i could think of throughout was dyostovesky.
to fall in love with the painting before the girl, the empty olive trees and a looming tragedy

[Brenda]

I interesting read

I enjoy this book. It is beautifully written. I book keeps you pulled in and interested. I enjoyed the writing style and it was an easy read.

[Yuvika]

gut wrenching

[ms ysolde]

I have read this, it is sad in the last part, after 10 years.. and he have a daughter.. sad.. and that i the story of madonna in a fur coat