Publisher's Synopsis
The guns in Aleppo have fallen silent and the eastern part of the city is now rubble. Former east-end residents are gone and the streets are empty. In the meantime, Aleppo's UN-designated World Heritage Site has been damaged or destroyed. Aleppo is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. How can Syria, and the world, recover this one-of-a-kind treasure? If the war of bombs and bullets and the parallel social war of one Syrian against another are to be resolved and the country rebuilt, Syrians will need to remember the ancient cultural touchstones that belong to every Syrian. This is the message of Aleppo-native Khaldoun Fansa, the author, and the illustrator Abdalla Asaad who lives in nearby Homs. Visit the Old City of Aleppo is Fansas effort to remind fellow Syrians of their unique culture and to create a rallying point for Syrians and their friends all over the world who want to heal the divisions and to rebuild the country. Royalties from sales will be donated to restoration and relief efforts. If Syria is to be restored, the international community needs to value Aleppo and other one-of-a-kind Syrian treasures. Visit the Old City of Aleppo is a children's book for adults ... as well as children. This book brings alive Aleppos ancient city in a story set just before the troubles began in 2011. It tells of Tamim, a boy who visits Aleppo's historic neighborhoods. Of greater interest to adults, the author also provides historical sketches of the city and color illustrations and photographs, both historical and contemporary. Author Khaldoun Fansa is an Aleppo native and an architect who was active in many preservation projects in the Old City of Aleppo, and who looks forward to the city's restoration. Illustrator Abdalla Asaad is an illustrator and college professor who has lived through the devastation of Homs and has equal hopes for his home city. Visit the Old City of Aleppo is a valuable resource for everyone interested in the world's historic treasure cities ... and for readers with heart who want to help in the restoration of Syrian civil society.
