<p/><br></br><p><b> Book Synopsis </b></p></br></br><p><b>The basis for the major motion picture <i>The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir</i></b> <p/>A charmingly exuberant comic debut, <i>The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe</i> is the globetrotting story of a trickster from rural India and his adventure of a lifetime. <p/>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. <p/>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. <p/>Channeling the manic energy of the Marx Brothers and the biting social commentary of <i>Candide, </i>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.)</p><p/><br></br><p><b> Review Quotes </b></p></br></br><br><b>INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER</b><br> <b>Winner of the Grand Prix Jules Verne</b><br> <b>Finalist for the Prix Renaudot<br></b><br>"[A] comic strip of a novel. . . . Strewn with laugh-out-loud jokes." --<i>The New York Times Book Review<br></i><br>"A philosophical odyssey. By turns slapstick and serious." --<i>The Wall Street Journal<br></i><br> "Entertaining and original." --<i>Minneapolis Star Tribune<br></i><br>"A delightfully silly confection." --<i>The Seattle Times<br></i><br> "Combines farce worthy of Laurel and Hardy with socio-political satire." --<i>The Washington Times<br></i><br>"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 humour and an excellent translator, that's what French writer Romain Puértolas achieves." --<i>The Independent <br></i><br> "Full of quirky charm. . . . [A] hilarious and touching journey towards redemption and self-knowledge. Delightful." --<i>The Times</i> (London) <p/> "As astonishing and original as its title--and disarming to boot. . . . Romain Puértolas has given us an amalgam that is both pointed in its social criticism and--dare it be said--charming enough to make Voltaire cringe. . . . It's fable and it's farce. It's satire and it's spoof. It's brash and it's stirring." --<i>The Anniston Star<br></i><br> "Brilliant . . . A fable, a farce, but also and above all, a delicious satire of the modern world." --<i>Le Figaro Magazine<br></i><br> "A madcap romantic adventure. . . . Blessed with an energetic bonhomie that's thoroughly endearing." --<i>The Mail on Sunday<br></i><br> "A farcical tale with a dark underbelly. . . . A manic yet incisive satire." --<i>Publishers Weekly</i><br> "Very funny." --<i>Daily Mail<br></i><br> "As heartfelt as it is original." --<i>GQ </i>(UK) <p/> "Wryly comic. . . . That rare beast: a novel full of heart and conscience that never takes itself too seriously." --<i>The Guardian</i> (UK) <p/> "[A] quirky, hilarious, elegantly-written farce." --<i>The Daily Telegraph<br></i><br> "Genuinely funny." --<i>Vogue</i> (UK) <p/> "If you believe in zen and the art of flat pack furniture, this is the book for you." --<i>Sunday Express<br></i><br> "As sprightly as it is funny. . . . [Puértolas] piles up the vivid scenes along with oodles of puns." --<i>L'Express</i> (France) <p/> "A manic fairy tale peppered with wry observations and social criticism. . . . It charms with its exuberance and satirical sensibility. . . . [Puértolas] delights in puns while satirizing consumerism and the capriciousness of the immigration system." --Shelf Awareness<br><p/><br></br><p><b> About the Author </b></p></br></br>Romain Puértolas was born in Montpellier and has lived in France, Spain, and the U.K., 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. <i>The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe</i> was a number-one best seller in France and has been published in thirty-five countries. <p/>www.romainpuertolas.com