Book Collectors of Daraya

'The Book Collectors of Daraya celebrates the political and therapeutic power of the written word . . . defiant and cautiously optimistic' Financial Times

'[An] incredible chronicle . . . The book tells the kind of story that often gets buried beneath images of violence' LitHub

In 2012 the rebel suburb of Daraya in Damascus was brutally besieged by Syrian government forces. Four years of suffering ensued, punctuated by shelling, barrel bombs and chemical gas attacks. People's homes were destroyed and their food supplies cut off; disease was rife.

Yet in this man-made hell, forty young Syrian revolutionaries embarked on an extraordinary project, rescuing all the books they could find in the bombed-out ruins of their home town. They used them to create a secret library, in a safe place, deep underground. It became their school, their university, their refuge. It was a place to learn, to exchange ideas, to dream and to hope.

Based on lengthy interviews with these young men, conducted over Skype by the award-winning French journalist Delphine Minoui, The Book Collectors of Daraya is a powerful testament to freedom, tolerance and the power of literature.

Translated from the French by Lara Vergnaud.

Review: There is something seductive about the idea of knowledge as a bulwark against brutal force, and it's an idea that immediately resonates with Minoui . . . She makes up for the lack of on-the-ground access with an abundance of attention and empathy. -- Mythili Rao * Guardian *
The Book Collectors of Daraya celebrates the political and therapeutic power of the written word . . . defiant and cautiously optimistic -- Houman Barekat * Financial Times *
[An] incredible chronicle . . . The book tells the kind of story that often gets buried beneath images of violence. -- Corinne Segal * LitHub *
Just like prisons across the region, rebel strongholds are sometimes universities in exile; witnessing the unexpected joy of learning in such circumstances is both sobering and inspiring. -- Lisa Anderson * Foreign Affairs *
A haunting portrait . . . Fluidly translated and emotionally powerful, this devastating account pays tribute to the "dream of a better world that never fully came true" * Publishers Weekly *
This compassionate portrayal of an engaging group of rebels serves as a testament to both the resilience of the human spirit and to the power of story. Highly recommended for those interested in current events, Middle East history and politics, and personal accounts of war. * Library Journal *
An extraordinary story . . . Heartbreaking, inspiring, and beautifully told * Kirkus Reviews *
Readers will be moved by the plight of the people of Daraya, and inspired by their faith in the power of books to give information, release, and hope. * Booklist *
The Book Collectors of Daraya is about hope and connection against unspeakable violence, deprivation, and tragedy. It is a meaningful addition to the literary subgenre that covers books and libraries. -- Martha Anne Toll * NPR *
Precise yet passionate . . . The Book Collectors of Daraya is a phenomenal story of hope in the midst of complete devastation. -- Alice Cary * BookPage *
The Book Collectors of Daraya hurt me like never before, because I hold this country I have never visited, my country, close to my heart . . . Readers discover how the magic of books kept the rebels motivated, hopeful, sane and, most importantly, alive . . . Honest and brutal, it opens your eyes to the nightmares of war but also to the glory of books and reading. -- Bader Saab * Patheos *
This is an urgent and compelling account of great bravery and passion. Delphine Minoui has crafted a book that champions books and the individuals who risk everything to preserve them. -- Susan Orlean, author of The Library Book
Absolutely essential reading. With masterful storytelling, Delphine Minoui recounts the struggle and tenacity of the youth of Daraya who, in the shadow of a merciless war, rescue books from the rubble and bring to life a library unlike any other. Each page connects us to their strength and their spirit as well as to the power of words in a crumbling world. This book is an ode to resistance, to freedom, and to life. -- Negar Djavadi, author of Disoriental
After reading this book, there can be no doubt. Not about the power of words versus the words of those in power. Not about the importance of literature in times of despair. And not about the strength of Delphine Minoui's pen, as she honors the act of resistance against the disaster of war. -- Atiq Rahimi, author of A Curse on Dostoevsky
I was so moved by this account of the young rebels of Daraya, Syria, who, in the midst of a four-year blockade by Assad's forces (including having poison gas used against them), set up a library with books rescued from bombed and destroyed buildings, an underground (in both senses of the word) library that grew to more than 15,000 titles, ranging from Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People to Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, and everything in between. In this testimony to the power of reading, these lines stood out: 'Books are their best way to escape the war, if only temporarily. A melody of words against the dirge of bombs.' -- Nancy Pearl, author of Book Lust and George and Lizzie