The Architect's Apprentice (Turkish: Ustam ve Ben, My Master and Me) is a 2013 historical fiction novel by Elif Shafak, set in the 16th century Ottoman Empire.

[1] It follows the fictional life of Jahan, an elephant keeper to Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent who later becomes an apprentice of Mimar Sinan.

As part of the rogue captain's plan to steal from the palace, Jahan is led to pose as its mahout (keeper).

He assists with a variety of projects, including the construction of mosques, bridges, waterworks and an observatory, and the restoration of the Hagia Sophia.

[1] Reviewing it for the same newspaper, Anita Sethi called it an "intricate, multilayered new novel, which excels both in its resplendent details and grand design" and "emotionally forceful".