Author: Mike Thomson

This is the remarkable story of a small, makeshift library in the town of Daraya, and the people who found hope and humanity in its books during a four-year siege.
Daraya lies on the fringe of Damascus, just southwest of the Syrian capital.
Syria’s Secret Library is a fantastic book from BBC Foreign Affairs Correspondent Mike Thomson about war, finding hope in the middle of despair, and the power of books.
“It is a fascinating and frustrating book, telling the story of a Syrian town of books and resistance which entered the civil war by creating their own library,” said a review in goodreads.com.
“It would seem like the perfect story for a BBC journalist to tell, and the journalist has done his best, maintaining genuine friendships with the people of Daraya that he never betrayed,” it added.
“It is an incredible read, a portrait of a part of the world where the suffering and struggle are tremendous,” said the review.
“One of the best nonfiction books of the year, Syria’s Secret Library will open your eyes, heart, and mind in ways you never thought possible.”