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Of Strangers and Bees

A Hayy ibn Yaqzan Tale
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( 105 ratings, 14 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Of Strangers and Bees by Hamid Ismailov weaves a tale of a stranded poet, Sheikhov, in post-Soviet Uzbekistan who embarks on a profound journey both geographically and spiritually. Dislocated from his homeland, he encounters a series of strange yet enlightening experiences that intersperse with ancient Persian legends. The narrative elegantly explores themes of identity, exile, and the intersection of science and spirituality.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate stories that intricately weave together personal odysseys with rich cultural histories. Set against a backdrop of both contemporary and ancient landscapes, it offers a reflective and vivid exploration of identity and belonging that resonates with readers who admire poetic and thought-provoking narratives.

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Of Strangers and Bees

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. The novel follows Avicenna across the ages from Ottoman Turkey to medieval Germany and Renaissance Italy.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

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.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Of Strangers and Bees by Hamid Ismailov is widely acclaimed for its lyrical prose and rich storytelling, weaving a narrative that traverses different cultures and eras. Reviewers praise its exploration of identity and exile, highlighting Ismailov's ability to craft a tapestry of human experience that is both intimate and expansive. The book is noted for its imaginative narrative structure and its poignant reflections on the intersection of history and personal journey.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781911284369

Publisher: Tilted Axis Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 24 October 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Tilted Axis Press

Illustration: Illustrations

Contributors:

  • Translated by Shelley Fairweather-Vega

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Weight: 0g

Pages: 446

About the Author

Hamid Ismailov is an Uzbek writer who was forced to flee Uzbekistan in 1992 due to what the state dubbed 'unacceptable democratic tendencies'. He came to the United Kingdom, where he took a job with the BBC World Service. His works are banned in Uzbekistan. Several of his Russian-original novels have been published in English translation, including The Railway (Vintage, 2007),The Dead Lake, which was long listed for the 2015 Independent Foreign Fiction Prize, and The Underground (both Restless Books). The Devils' Dance was the first of his Uzbek language novels to appear in English, and won the EBRD Prize in 2019.

Shelley Fairweather-Vega is a professional Russian to English translator and an enthusiastic Uzbek to English translator in Seattle, Washington. She holds degrees in international relations from Johns Hopkins University and in Russian, East European, and Central Asian Studies from the University of Washington. That background in international politics, plus a passion for puzzles, led her naturally to a career in translation, where she earns a living examining the puzzling intersections between culture and politics. Shelley runs FairVegaTranslations and FairVega Russian Library Services and is president of the Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society. Since 2006, she has worked as a freelance translator for attorneys, academics, authors and activists around the world.

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