The Aleppo Codex: The True Story Of Obsession, Faith, And The International Pursuit Of An Ancient Bible (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
Masterful evocation of a time (1947, Syria), with its desperate escapes by night, for both a people and a parchment. Shades of Le Carré in Friedman's probing of the distant memories of ageing players, in his intimate depiction of a scattered community, and in his discovery of a web of obfuscation where one might least expect it. In his narration of a relentless search for the missing pages of the Aleppo codex, Matt Friedman darts nimbly backwards and forwards through the history of the codex , vividly evoking the determination and frustrations of his personal quest; much of it following red herrings, until he finally breaks through smoke screens that mask some ugly skeletons in the cupboards of the custodians of treasures of inestimable value. Everything in the title is correct. This is a breathless hunt for a document which I knew nothing about. Even though I am not religious the importance of this item can hardly be overstated because of what it means to so many people. Best of all it reads like a story with fits and stops that can hardly be foreseen.I was especially impressed that the author put a list of the major characters with their roles at the beginning of the book so that you could refer to it. This is a confusing account with all of its secrets and lies.One apparent error, which the author has probably been informed of before me, is the relocation of Tripoli to the Lebanon-Syria border. Just nitpicking here. A great story, mystery and history all rolled in to one. Don't miss it.
What do You think about The Aleppo Codex: The True Story Of Obsession, Faith, And The International Pursuit Of An Ancient Bible (2012)?
Fascinating topic, but the narrative got a bit mushy after 100 pages or so. Abandoned...
—Rainie
This book is fascinating and moves quickly, like a good mystery.
—terry
I was on the edge of my seat throughout most of the book!
—zara
