The octogenarian bookseller of Aleppo

He has also experienced many new beginnings that usually carry with them hope for a brighter future and better things to come.

Shamiya went through many difficult times but it did not stop him from following his profession of selling books which he started working in at the age of 17. He recently opened a new bookshop in one of the old neighborhoods of Aleppo.

Shamiya, who is 80 years old, did not lose hope after the death of his wife in the bombing of the Judicial Palace close to his house. He still starts his day at 9 am in the bookshop where he greets many visitors until 3:30 in the afternoon. He continues to sell books during the day and acquire new ones that are not yet available in his bookshop by looking for them in other bookshops in different areas of Aleppo.

The current bookshop in Khan Al-Wazir neighborhood that he opened 9 months ago includes books that people had given to Shamiya as well as those which he owned. 

Shamiya says he is prepared to keep on enriching his bookshop which already includes around a thousand books. He receives about 4 or 5 visitors per day which he considers to be few but good.

Book prices vary based on the age and scientific value of the book. He says that the shop contains books that are worth 100 and 500 Syrian lira, and some that go as high as 5 thousand Syrian lira. “Sometimes, I sell the book in installments, and I reduce the price for some of my customers,” he said.

Shamiya says he owns a copy of the book “Al-l’tisam” (The demonstration). The copy is valuable as it was published during the time of Khedavi Ismail, the grandfather of King Farouk.

He recounted, “I prefer historical books, and of them, the beginning and the end for Ibn Khathir and the history of the Khoulafa because it is pleasurable and it makes you experience the events as if you are taking part.”

Shamiya previously worked in many reputable bookshops in Aleppo such as Al-Tilmith Bookshop (Student Bookshop), Al-Wafaa Bookshop (Loyalty Bookshop), Al-Hadara Bookshop (Civilization Bookshop), Al-Fatih Bookshop and Al-Hadar Al-Islamiya Bookshop (Islamic Civilization Bookshop). 

He subsequently left the bookshops and took up selling books on ‘bastas’ (open kiosks) in many parts of Aleppo such as Khan Al-Harir and Findik Al-Amir. He then rented a shop in Al-Tamouyin Complex, but it burned causing him to stay at home until the opening of this most recent bookshop.

Shamiya considers that, “Reasonable people are few in the current time,” reiterating, “I love books and reading, and I chose this route because it is a service to scholarship, scholars, and people.”

He recalls how he memorized a poem in his youth that included the following line, “I am a youth with culture, I read the best of books. If company is absent, then books are my company.” 

He indicated that the city of Aleppo is famous for its production of knowledge since times long past. “Aleppo used to include an area called ‘Al-warakat’ (the papers) that is now Finkik Al-Amir. Also Al-Faradous University used to teach students Hanifi Fiqah, and people from Al-Andalous would come to it.”

Khalifa Al-Khedir, a university student from Aleppo, said that the bookshops in the liberated neighborhoods lack diversity as literary books and novels are absent. Religious books are more readily available as a result of the influence of the brigades which want to promote this culture.

Al-Khedir considered that culture, “is important to create a balance in human’s lives,” indicating that Shamiya’s bookshop, “despite its age is wonderful.” He bought a book entitled, “The art of Drama” while he was there.He expressed his wish for the culture of reading to spread as, “the liberation of Syria and its opening up begins with opening a book.”

Shamiya returns every day after finishing his work in the bookshop to read a book of his choice until the early morning hours. He reads alone by the light of candles. 

The book loving octogenarian also lives alone after his 11 children left the country. He attributes their leaving to the worsening economic and security situations.

Hopefully Shamiya’s bookstore will survive the worsening violence of the regime and the indiscriminate bombing of its Russian allies in recent days as they push to recapture control of the entire city. 

Adapted from the original published by Enab Baladi English on January 30, 2016.