Of strangers and bees: a hayy ibn yaqzan tale

BY Hamid ismailov / TRanslated from uzbek BY shelley fairweather-vega

The intricate new novel from the winner of the EBRD Literature Prize

‘Life in exile! May it be cursed. Once you have become a stranger, a stranger you shall remain; you may endeavour to make friends, but the task is a difficult one, full end to end with uncertainty.‘

In the latest thrilling multi-stranded epic from the award-winning author of The Devils’ Dance, an Uzbek writer in exile traces the fate of the medieval polymath Avicenna, who shaped Islamic thought and science for centuries.

Waking from a portentous dream, Uzbek writer Sheikhov is convinced that the medieval polymath Avicenna lives on, condemned to roam the world. The novel follows Avicenna in various incarnations across the ages from Ottoman Turkey to medieval Germany and Renaissance Italy. Sheikhov plies the same route, though his troubles are distinctly modern as he endures the petty humiliations of exile.

Following the award-winning The Devils' Dance, Hamid Ismailov has crafted another masterpiece, combining traditional oral storytelling with contemporary global fiction to create a modern Sufi parable about the search for truth and wisdom.

PRAISE:

‘Learned, strange and charming, Of Strangers and Bees enriched my understanding of history.’ — Marcel Theroux, The Guardian (Book of the Day)

‘Of Strangers and Bees is an alluring, disjointed novel of parables and allegories (...) In many ways, Of Strangers and Bees feels like the culmination of all of Ismailov’s works, experiences, and philosophies.’ — Will Harris, Books and Bao

‘Any reader might find themselves with a pen and paper handy, ready to take down tokens of wisdom. (…) For all its depth and complexity, Of Strangers and Bees remains a page-turner, driven by Sheikhov’s captivating inner monologue.’ — Hannah Weber, Calvert Journal

‘It is Ismailov’s skill to keep us fascinated by the story or, rather, the stories, which are both deadly serious but, in some cases, very funny, as well as to educate us about his culture, his faith and the very real problems of exiles, particularly those coming from a culture that threatens them, their family and their well-being.’ — The Modern Novel

‘I am extremely excited to see this “modern Sufi parable” being published in the UK. This is a magnificent epic (…) should be a must-read for anyone who likes reading diverse literature.’ — Rabeea Saleem, BookRiot

‘Many of the episodes are beguiling. One could characterize the overall effect as Master and Margarita comes to the Uzbek Cultural Center of Queens, NY.’ — David Chaffetz, Asian Review of Books

MORE INFORMATION

• Publication date: 24 October 2019

• Format: B-format paperback (198mm × 127mm)

• Extent: 446 pp

• ISBNs: 9781911284369 (print) / 9781911284352 (ebook)

• Rights held: World