The Street Philosopher and the Holy Fool: A Syrian Journey

The ancient land of Syria remains for many a sinister and forbidding destination, only recently opening up to foreign travellers. Marius Kociejowski presents a completely fresh and unexpected face to this mysterious country. Based on his own visits to Syria, The Street Philosopher and the Holy Fool describes a journey which brings him into contact with a host of colourful and unusual characters, each of whom is an outsider of sorts. Abed, the 'street philosopher', and Sulayman, the 'holy fool', are two of these intriguing people. Their friendship is emblematic of the polarities of Syrian daily existence - an ancient culture threatened by economic and political pressures. Sulayman is an alchemist and healer who moves along a path of asceticism strange even to his fellow Muslims. Abed, while he is desirous of Sulayman's otherworldliness, also yearns for a world where, in his own words, he can 'cut the watermelon and live normally'. Other characters include Myrna, a Christian stigmatic, 'the prince of fools' Abu al-Talib, who speaks in parables and the jokester Sufi saint of Damascus, Shaykh Ahmad al-Harun. In their company, Marius Kociejowski walks the narrow line between reason and folly. The Street Philosopher and the Holy Fool provides a memorable account of the deeper purposes of travel: to absorb the spirit of a place, to meet people from a different sphere of life and to return changed.