Damascus Nights - Paperback
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Damascus Nights: A Celebrated Tale-Within-A-Tale Novel
Rafik Schami's Damascus Nights transforms the classical Arab tradition of tale-telling for contemporary readers through an intricate frame narrative set in present-day Damascus. This award-winning novel centers on Salim the coachman, the city's most renowned storyteller, who is mysteriously struck dumb. To break the spell, seven friends gather for seven consecutive nights, each presenting Salim with a story as a gift.
Seven Nights, Seven Stories
The novel unfolds through the voices of a hairdresser, a teacher, the wife of a locksmith, and other friends who gather to share their tales. As they sip tea and pass the water pipe, their stories weave together the magical and the mundane—djinnis and princesses alongside contemporary politics and the challenges of navigating a New York department store. Each tale leads to another, creating a rich tapestry that brings all of Damascus to life.
Where Ancient Tradition Meets Modern Turmoil
Set against the backdrop of a changing Damascus, the novel captures a pivotal moment where ancient customs yield to modern pressures. The fragrant Arabian nights provide the setting for stories that explore friendship, community, and the essential human need for connection through narrative. Publishers Weekly describes it as "a highly atmospheric, pungent narrative" that works as both a celebration of storytelling and a portrait of a city in transition.
About Rafik Schami
Born in Damascus in 1946, Rafik Schami moved to Germany in 1971 to study and became a leading German novelist and pivotal figure in the European migrant literature movement. His novels have been translated into 22 languages and have received numerous international literary awards including the Hermann Hesse Prize. His translated works published by Interlink include The Calligrapher's Secret, A Hand Full of Stars, Sophia, and The Dark Side of Love, which received a starred review in Publishers Weekly and was a 2010 Winner of the Independent Publisher Book Award Gold Medal.
A Book for Readers of All Ages
Damascus Nights offers a sly and graceful reading experience that appeals to both young and old readers. The novel presents storytelling not merely as entertainment, but as the essence of friendship and community life itself. This magical book delights with its frame narrative structure while offering insight into Syrian culture, Middle Eastern traditions, and the universal power of stories to connect people across generations and cultures.
Contributor(s)
Author
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Damascus Nights: A Celebrated Tale-Within-A-Tale Novel
Rafik Schami's Damascus Nights transforms the classical Arab tradition of tale-telling for contemporary readers through an intricate frame narrative set in present-day Damascus. This award-winning novel centers on Salim the coachman, the city's most renowned storyteller, who is mysteriously struck dumb. To break the spell, seven friends gather for seven consecutive nights, each presenting Salim with a story as a gift.
Seven Nights, Seven Stories
The novel unfolds through the voices of a hairdresser, a teacher, the wife of a locksmith, and other friends who gather to share their tales. As they sip tea and pass the water pipe, their stories weave together the magical and the mundane—djinnis and princesses alongside contemporary politics and the challenges of navigating a New York department store. Each tale leads to another, creating a rich tapestry that brings all of Damascus to life.
Where Ancient Tradition Meets Modern Turmoil
Set against the backdrop of a changing Damascus, the novel captures a pivotal moment where ancient customs yield to modern pressures. The fragrant Arabian nights provide the setting for stories that explore friendship, community, and the essential human need for connection through narrative. Publishers Weekly describes it as "a highly atmospheric, pungent narrative" that works as both a celebration of storytelling and a portrait of a city in transition.
About Rafik Schami
Born in Damascus in 1946, Rafik Schami moved to Germany in 1971 to study and became a leading German novelist and pivotal figure in the European migrant literature movement. His novels have been translated into 22 languages and have received numerous international literary awards including the Hermann Hesse Prize. His translated works published by Interlink include The Calligrapher's Secret, A Hand Full of Stars, Sophia, and The Dark Side of Love, which received a starred review in Publishers Weekly and was a 2010 Winner of the Independent Publisher Book Award Gold Medal.
A Book for Readers of All Ages
Damascus Nights offers a sly and graceful reading experience that appeals to both young and old readers. The novel presents storytelling not merely as entertainment, but as the essence of friendship and community life itself. This magical book delights with its frame narrative structure while offering insight into Syrian culture, Middle Eastern traditions, and the universal power of stories to connect people across generations and cultures.
Contributor(s)
Author