The Storyteller of Damascus

An authentic taste of the old Damascene tradition of storytelling that will inspire children’s imagination. An old storyteller roams through the old quarter of Damascus. For only one piaster, he offers to show the children the wonders of the world. The children look through the peepholes of his magic box, which he carries on his back from one neighborhood to the next. There they see and hear the love story of Sami, the shepherd boy, and the beautiful Leyla. But over time, the story changes… pictures inside the wonder box become old and start to fade away, replaced by cutouts from recent advertisements. A stunningly-illustrated children’s book filled with love, intrigue, courage, loyalty, and the sounds and smells of old Damascus.

Rafik Schami’s award-winning novels have been translated into 21 languages. His novels The Dark Side of Love and The Calligrapher’s Secret received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly. Rika Lesser is a poet and acclaimed translator. Her translations include A Living Soul by P. C. Jersild and Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse.

Eve Lloyd Knight is an illustrator, designer and, art director whose work has been featured in the New York Times, Grazia, Stylist, and many others. Eve produces bold and topical illustrations, with a specific focus on feminist issues.