The Beekeeper of Aleppo cover art

The Beekeeper of Aleppo

A Moving Testament to the Human Spirit

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The Beekeeper of Aleppo

By: Christy Lefteri
Narrated by: Art Malik
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About this listen

Shortlisted for Audiobook of the Year - the British Book Awards 2020.

Moving, powerful, compassionate and beautifully written, The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit. Told with deceptive simplicity, it is the kind of book that reminds us of the power of storytelling.

In the midst of war, he found love.

In the midst of darkness, he found courage.

In the midst of tragedy, he found hope.

Nuri is a beekeeper, his wife, Afra, an artist. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo - until the unthinkable happens. When all they care for is destroyed by war, they are forced to escape. But what Afra has seen is so terrible she has gone blind, and so they must embark on a perilous journey through Turkey and Greece towards an uncertain future in Britain. On the way, Nuri is sustained by the knowledge that waiting for them is Mustafa, his cousin and business partner, who has started an apiary and is teaching fellow refugees in Yorkshire to keep bees.

As Nuri and Afra travel through a broken world, they must confront not only the pain of their own unspeakable loss but dangers that would overwhelm the bravest of souls. Above all - and perhaps this is the hardest thing they face - they must journey to find each other again.

©2019 Christy Lefteri (P)2019 Bonnier Books UK
Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Tear-jerking Inspiring War Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Feel-Good

Critic Reviews

"This is a novel of international significance. Courageous, provocative, haunting, it will open our eyes." (Heather Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz)

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This could have been a novel that left you feeling quite hopeless and distressed about the plight of refugees and what they endure, but the characters are so complex, and some show such compassion and acts of kindness (in spite of their treatment) that its a truly uplifting novel. Nuri and Afra exist in a world that is so foreign yet the detail of their existence draws us into their mental and physical landscape they inhabit on their journey to freedom. It’s a sad and tender story about loss, love and belonging,and the author’s work as a volunteer in refugee camps means that she has honoured the refugees with a truly beautiful novel that reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit and our capacity for love.

A vivid portrayal of the devastation of war and the triumph of love and friendship

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This story is heartbreaking. I choked up several times listening to this one. The storytelling is deceptively simple but with such imagery and lyrical prose.

Ultimately it is a story of a man and his wife and their story as refugees. This book made me feel so much empathy and then gratitude for the own life I have. We are so quick to criticise refugees coming to our country without any understanding of the horrors they have survived.

Christy Lefteri has done an excellent job in creating this vivid story which packs a huge emotional punch. I felt like I learned a little about Syria and with the beautiful writing I almost felt at times if I was there. This was quite intentional by the author I’m sure, particularly as one of the characters is blind therefore necessitating detailed information being relayed. The audiobook was excellent.

A story to remember long after the last page.

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I loved this. The story is great and this is possibly the best voice for narration I’ve ever heard in an audiobook.

Highly recommended!

A superior story with excellent narration by Art Malik

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This book really opened my eyes up to the struggles of refugees and I was embarrassed to admit to myself I really don’t know as much as I should about this issue.

The characters felt real and I connected with each of them in turn. The narrator’s voice is so soothing I would often listen before bed at night. I highly recommend this book.

Poignant and captivating

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heart wrenching journey of a refugee: normal life, trauma, posttraumatic, loss of loved ones, loss of self worth, boats, camps, abuse... all tear jerking and all depict reality very accurately. memorable from beginning to end!

must-read

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This is an incredible story and an incredible journey. Beautifully written and narrated. Thank you.

Magnificent read!

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This book is a beautiful and achingly deep account of how ordinary lives are so profoundly affected by the atrocities we humans inflict on each other.
It’s a must read.
This book should be included in all school reading criterias.
Art Malik delivers the story so well that you forget you’re reading a book, the story just unfolds in your mind.
Thank you to you both xxx

Prepare for a reality check

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It flows well and a great insight to the refugee crisis. Excellent story and lots to think about.

Great read

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Beautifully written & narrated. So sad but so hopeful. A humanitarian story that will touch everyone who listens.

Excellent

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So much heartbreak and hope are depicted in this beautifully & empathetically written novel. A Highly recommended reading.

Beautifully & empathetically written.

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