Play Audiobook Sample
The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe: A novel Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(0.00) - 0 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
A charmingly exuberant comic debut from an exciting new literary voice, and a “quirky, hilarious, elegantly written farce” (The Daily Telegraph), The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe is the globetrotting story of a trickster from rural India and his adventure of a lifetime. When the fakir—a professional con artist—arrives in Paris, he has just one goal: to get to Ikea. Armed with only a counterfeit hundred-euro note in the pocket of his silk trousers, he is confident that he has all he needs to thrive. But his plan goes horribly awry when he hides inside a wardrobe at the iconic Swedish retailer—the first in a series of accidents that will send him on a whirlwind tour across Europe. Pursued across the continent by a swindled taxi driver dead set on revenge, our fakir soon finds unlikely friends—from movie stars to illegal immigrants—in even unlikelier places. And, much to his own surprise, his heart begins to open to those around him as he comes to understand the universal desire to seek a better life in an often dangerous world. Channeling the manic energy of the Marx Brothers and the biting social commentary of Candide, Romain Puértolas has crafted an unforgettable comic romp around Europe that is propelled by laughter, love, and, ultimately, redemption. (Meatballs not included but highly recommended.)
Download and start listening now!
“Strewn with laugh-out-loud jokes and furnished with a biblical moral at the end, Puértolas’s lightweight tale, excellently translated, is close kin to those of Jules Verne. But Ajatashatru is no Phileas Fogg, nor does he share Fogg’s universe. His world is ours: postcolonial, rife with the economic inequities left in the wake of empire and with the desperate ‘illegal’ human beings they have created.”
— New York Times Book Review
Quotes
-
“A genuinely funny novel.”
— Vogue (UK) -
“Who would have thought that a comedy that mixes flat-pack furniture with magic could tackle some of the biggest subjects of our time? With a big heart, a brilliant sense of humor, and an excellent translator, that’s what French writer Romain Puértolas achieves.”
— Independent (London) -
“This brilliant first novel…delivers a contemporary, off-the-wall version of Candide. It’s a fable, a farce, but also and above all a delicious satire of the modern world that we’ll have to read while cautiously holding our sides!”
— Le Figaro (Paris) -
“If you believe in zen and the art of flat-pack furniture, this is the book for you.”
— Sunday Express (London) -
“With his first novel, as sprightly as it is funny, Romain Puértolas adds one hell of a cheerful note to this fall season. Total nonsense? Yes, but developed at a brisk pace by Romain Puértolas, who piles up the vivid scenes along with oodles of puns.”
— L’Express (Paris) -
“A laugh out loud funny debut that is as bonkers as the title suggests.”
— Candis magazine (UK) -
“Puértolas’ debut is a charming, surreal comedy.”
— New Books Magazine (UK) -
“Julian Rhind-Tutt’s narration is a near perfect match for this quirky tale…Rhind-Tutt pronounces the many Indian names and words perfectly and uses spot-on accents for every type of foreigner as he brings this unusual story to life…Rhind-Tutt’s narration is delightful as the shallow trickster transforms into a caring, likable person.”
— AudioFile
Awards
-
Winner of the Grand Prix Jules Verne
The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe Listener Reviews
Be the first to write a review about this audiobook!
About Romain Puértolas
Romain Puértolas was born in Montpellier and has lived in France, Spain, and the UK, where he has been a DJ, singer-songwriter, language teacher, translator-interpreter, and steward. He most recently worked as a police inspector with the French border service, specializing in document fraud. The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir was a #1 bestseller in France.
About Julian Rhind-Tutt
Julian Rhind-Tutt is an actor and voice artist. His audiobook narrations have earned five AudioFile Earphones Awards, and he has been a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award. His film appearances include roles in The Madness of King George, The Saint, Les Misérables, Notting Hill, and Tomorrow Never Dies, while his television credits include Reckless, Dangerfield, and Richard II. His stage work includes Editing Process, The Way of the World, Catherine Howard, and as the Duke of York in The Madness of George III. He is also the recipient of the Carlton Hobbs Award from BBC Radio.