X-Book

The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir who got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe

Click Buy to Log in and see personalised pricing.

Send as a gift Get in the xigxag app

Listen to a sample

What to expect

One day a fakir leaves his small village in India and lands in Paris. A professional con artist, the fakir is on a pilgrimage to IKEA, where he intends to obtain an object he covets above all others: a brand new bed of nails. Without adequate Euros in the pockets of his silk trousers, the fakir is all the same confident that his counterfeit 100-Euro note (printed on one side only) and his usual bag of tricks will suffice. But when a swindled cab driver seeks his murderous revenge, the fakir accidentally embarks on a European tour, fatefully beginning in the wardrobe of the iconic Swedish retailer.

As his journey progresses in the most unpredictable of ways, the fakir finds unlikely friends in even unlikelier places. To his surprise - and to a Bollywood beat - the stirrings of love well up in the heart of our unlikely hero, even as his adventures lead to profound and moving questions of the perils of emigration and the universal desire to seek a better life in an often dangerous world.

Narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt.

Critics Review

Full of quirky charm... Delightful
The Times
A madcap romantic adventure... Blessed with an energetic bonhomie that's thoroughly endearing
Mail on Sunday
This summer's must-read novel...quirky, hilarious, elegantly-written
The Telegraph
A laugh-out-loud funny debut novel that is as bonkers as the title suggests
Candis Magazine
A genuinely funny novel
Vogue
Its blend of compassion and wit deserves to win readers
Independent
Wonderfully irreverent
Cruise International
Beneath the farce is a profound examination of immigration, and the lengths people go to for a better life
Manchester Evening News
Fast-paced comedy with a serious side… Highly entertaining
Irish Times
That rare beast: a novel full of heart of conscience that never takes itself too seriously
Observer
Author Romain Puertolas
Narrator Julian Rhind-Tutt
Duration 5 hours and 41 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781473520950
Format Audiobook
Publisher Random House
Genre Contemporary lifestyle fiction, Fiction in translation, Modern and contemporary fiction
Availability GB, IE

More from the same

About xigxag

xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK’s only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.

There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at £8.99. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from £3.99. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.

Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.

Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.