The Aleppo Codex: A True Story of Obsession, Faith, and the Pursuit of an Ancient Bible

Friedman, Matti

ISBN 10: 1611747724 ISBN 13: 9781611747720

Publisher: Highbridge Co, 2012

Synopsis

A true-life thriller about the journey of one of the world’s most precious manuscripts—the 10th century annotated Hebrew Bible known as the Aleppo Codex—from its hiding place in an ancient Syrian synagogue to the newly-founded Israel. Using his research, including documents which have been secret for 50 years and interviews with key players, AP correspondent Friedman tells a story of political upheaval, international intrigue, charged courtroom battles, obsession, and subterfuge.

About this title

Review

"A superb work of investigative journalism that reads like a detective thriller."--"The Wall Street Journal""Friedman's clear writing and dogged pursuit of some otherwise overlooked assumptions read more like a detective novel than history . . . Friedman has written an important account in accessible, gripping prose."--"The Christian Science Monitor ""A thrilling, step-by-step quest to discover what really happened to Judaism's most important book . . . Many of ["The Aleppo Codex"'s] most astute and well-earned revelations are also its biggest surprises."" --The Boston Globe""The Aleppo Codex builds to a moral crescendo more impressive than the climactic fight scene in any thriller.""--Salon ""Friedman creates a riveting story, one that the reader will have a hard time putting down."--"The Advocate""Thrilling . . . a real-life National Treasure that reads like fantastical fiction.""--CultureMob ""[Friedman] opened a treasure box of history, mystery, conspiracy, and convolutions that would do any biblical thriller proud . . . Friedman has done a remarkable job--finding sources and digging through archives--of getting the Crown's fascinating story out of the shadows and into the light. In the process, he's become the latest in the long line of the Crown's protectors."--"Booklist, "starred review"Sharply etched . . . A carefully paced narrative of purloined Judaica.""--Kirkus Reviews ""Friedman's account of how the Codex was taken from Syria in the 1940s, later to resurface in Jerusalem, although no longer Booklist's Top 10 Religion and Spirituality Books"A superb work of investigative journalism that reads like a detective thriller."--The Wall Street Journal"Friedman's clear writing and dogged pursuit of some otherwise overlooked assumptions read more like a detective novel than history . . . Friedman has written an important account in accessible, gripping prose."--The Christian Science Monitor "A thrilling, step-by-step quest to discover what really happened to Judaism's most important book . . . Many of [The Aleppo Codex's] most astute and well-earned revelations are also its biggest surprises." --The Boston Globe"The Aleppo Codex builds to a moral crescendo more impressive than the climactic fight scene in any thriller."--Salon "Friedman creates a riveting story, one that the reader will have a hard time putting down."--The Advocate"Thrilling . . . a real-life National Treasure that reads like fantastical fiction."--CultureMob "[Friedman] opened a treasure box of history, mystery, conspiracy, and convolutions that would do any biblical thriller proud . . . Friedman has done a remarkable job--finding sources and digging through archives--of getting the Crown's fascinating story out of the shadows and into the light. In the process, he's become the latest in the long line of the Crown's protectors."--Booklist, starred review"Sharply etched . . . A carefully paced narrative of purloined Judaica."--Kirkus Reviews "Friedman's account of how the Codex was taken from Syria in the 1940s, later to resurface in Jerusalem, although no longer Booklist s Top 10 Religion and Spirituality Books A superb work of investigative journalism that reads like a detective thriller. The Wall Street Journal Friedman s clear writing and dogged pursuit of some otherwise overlooked assumptions read more like a detective novel than history . . . Friedman has written an important account in accessible, gripping prose. The Christian Science Monitor A thrilling, step-by-step quest to discover what really happened to Judaism s most important book . . . Many of [The Aleppo Codex s] most astute and well-earned revelations are also its biggest surprises. The Boston Globe The Aleppo Codex builds to a moral crescendo more impressive than the climactic fight scene in any thriller. Salon Friedman creates a riveting story, one that the reader will have a hard time putting down. The Advocate Thrilling . . . a real-life National Treasure that reads like fantastical fiction. CultureMob [Friedman] opened a treasure box of history, mystery, conspiracy, and convolutions that would do any biblical thriller proud . . . Friedman has done a remarkable job finding sources and digging through archives of getting the Crown s fascinating story out of the shadows and into the light. In the process, he s become the latest in the long line of the Crown s protectors. Booklist, starred review Sharply etched . . . A carefully paced narrative of purloined Judaica. Kirkus Reviews Friedman s account of how the Codex was taken from Syria in the 1940s, later to resurface in Jerusalem, although no longer" Booklist s Top 10 Religion and Spirituality Books A superb work of investigative journalism that reads like a detective thriller. "The Wall Street Journal" Friedman s clear writing and dogged pursuit of some otherwise overlooked assumptions read more like a detective novel than history . . . Friedman has written an important account in accessible, gripping prose. "The Christian Science Monitor " A thrilling, step-by-step quest to discover what really happened to Judaism s most important book . . . Many of ["The Aleppo Codex" s] most astute and well-earned revelations are also its biggest surprises. " The Boston Globe" The Aleppo Codex builds to a moral crescendo more impressive than the climactic fight scene in any thriller. " Salon " Friedman creates a riveting story, one that the reader will have a hard time putting down. "The Advocate" Thrilling . . . a real-life National Treasure that reads like fantastical fiction. " CultureMob " [Friedman] opened a treasure box of history, mystery, conspiracy, and convolutions that would do any biblical thriller proud . . . Friedman has done a remarkable job finding sources and digging through archives of getting the Crown s fascinating story out of the shadows and into the light. In the process, he s become the latest in the long line of the Crown s protectors. "Booklist, "starred review Sharply etched . . . A carefully paced narrative of purloined Judaica. " Kirkus Reviews " Friedman s account of how the Codex was taken from Syria in the 1940s, later to resurface in Jerusalem, although no longer"

About the Author

Matti Friedman's 2016 book Pumpkinflowers was chosen as a New York Times Notable Book and as one of Amazon's 10 Best Books of the Year. It was selected as one of the year's best by Booklist, Mother Jones, Foreign Affairs, the National Post, and the Globe and Mail. It also won the Vine Award in Canada. Matti's first book, The Aleppo Codex won the 2014 Sami Rohr Prize, the ALA's Sophie Brody Medal, and the Canadian Jewish Book Award for history and was translated into seven languages. Friedman's work as a reporter has taken him from Israel to Lebanon, Morocco, Moscow, the Caucasus, and Washington, DC, and his writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, The Atlantic, the Washington Post, and elsewhere. A former Associated Press correspondent, Friedman is a regular contributor to Tablet Magazine and the Jewish Review of Books. He grew up in Toronto and now lives with his family in Jerusalem.

Edition details

• Publisher: Highbridge Co
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1611747724
• ISBN 13: 9781611747720
• Binding: Audio CD