The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe : A Novel

A charmingly exuberant comic debut, 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. Channelling 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.) 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 Pu?rtolas has crafted an unforgettable comic romp around Europe that is propelled by laughter, love, and, ultimately, redemption. (Meatballs not included but highly recommended.) From the Hardcover edition The basis for the major motion picture The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir A charmingly exuberant comic debut, 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.) 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. Romain Puértolas ; Translated From The French By Sam Taylor. Translation Of: L'extraordinaire Voyage Du Fakir Qui était Resté Coincé Dans Une Armoire Ikea. A con artist from India travels to France to shop at IKEA and unwittingly embarks on a European tour during which he makes friends in unlikely places