What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ardent Swarm
From an award-winning Tunisian author comes a stirring allegory about a country in the aftermath of revolution and the power of a single quest.
Sidi lives a hermetic life as a bee whisperer, tending to his beloved “girls” on the outskirts of the desolate North African village of Nawa. He wakes one morning to find that something has attacked one of his beehives, brutally killing every inhabitant. Heartbroken, he soon learns that a mysterious swarm of vicious hornets committed the mass murder—but where did they come from, and how can he stop them? If he is going to unravel this mystery and save his bees from annihilation, Sidi must venture out into the village and then brave the big city and beyond in search of answers.
Along the way, he discovers a country and a people turned upside down by their new post–Arab Spring reality as Islamic fundamentalists seek to influence votes any way they can on the eve of the country’s first democratic elections. To succeed in his quest, and find a glimmer of hope to protect all that he holds dear, Sidi will have to look further than he ever imagined.
In this brilliantly accessible modern-day parable, Yamen Manai uses a masterful blend of humor and drama to reveal what happens in a country shaken by revolutionary change after the world stops watching.
Sidi lives a hermetic life as a bee whisperer, tending to his beloved “girls” on the outskirts of the desolate North African village of Nawa. He wakes one morning to find that something has attacked one of his beehives, brutally killing every inhabitant. Heartbroken, he soon learns that a mysterious swarm of vicious hornets committed the mass murder—but where did they come from, and how can he stop them? If he is going to unravel this mystery and save his bees from annihilation, Sidi must venture out into the village and then brave the big city and beyond in search of answers.
Along the way, he discovers a country and a people turned upside down by their new post–Arab Spring reality as Islamic fundamentalists seek to influence votes any way they can on the eve of the country’s first democratic elections. To succeed in his quest, and find a glimmer of hope to protect all that he holds dear, Sidi will have to look further than he ever imagined.
In this brilliantly accessible modern-day parable, Yamen Manai uses a masterful blend of humor and drama to reveal what happens in a country shaken by revolutionary change after the world stops watching.
174 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2017
3535 people are currently reading
12951 people want to read
About the author
Yamen Manai
7 books127 followersYamen Manai was born in 1980 in Tunis and currently lives in Paris. Both a writer and an engineer, Manai explores the intersections of past and present, and tradition and technology, in his prose.
In The Ardent Swarm (originally published as L'Amas ardent), his first book to be translated into English, he celebrates Tunisia's rich oral culture, a tradition abounding in wry, often fatalistic humor. He has published three novels with the Tunisia-based Elyzad Editions--a deliberate choice to ensure that his books are accessible to Tunisian readers: La marche de l'incertitude (2010), awarded Tunisia's prestigious Prix Comar d'Or; La sérénade d'Ibrahim Santos (2011); and L'Amas ardent (2017), which earned both the Prix Comar d'Or and the Prix des Cinq Continents, a literary prize recognizing exceptional Francophone literature.
In The Ardent Swarm (originally published as L'Amas ardent), his first book to be translated into English, he celebrates Tunisia's rich oral culture, a tradition abounding in wry, often fatalistic humor. He has published three novels with the Tunisia-based Elyzad Editions--a deliberate choice to ensure that his books are accessible to Tunisian readers: La marche de l'incertitude (2010), awarded Tunisia's prestigious Prix Comar d'Or; La sérénade d'Ibrahim Santos (2011); and L'Amas ardent (2017), which earned both the Prix Comar d'Or and the Prix des Cinq Continents, a literary prize recognizing exceptional Francophone literature.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 928 reviews
April 3, 2022
5 "moving, miraculous, multilayered" stars !!
2021 Honorable Mention with High Distinction Read
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and translator and Amazon Crossing. This novel won Prix Comar d'Or and Prix des cinq continents awards. The French version was originally published in 2017 and this English version was released in February 2021.
"If the company of men could bring about doubt in God and the meaning of His designs, the company of bees led Sidi to quite different conclusions. He floated with them in a world of petals and pollen, of rapture and labor, rejoicing in an existence united by the elements, given rhythm by the seasons, laced with rewards. He venerated the God of his bees, unknown to many humans. He admired the beauty and precision of His work in the most concrete way possible and had made himself a place in an ancient wheel moved by divine inspiration....."
Tunisia. Contemporary times. After Arab Spring. Corruption after revolution. Move towards fundamentalism. The fear of moderates throughout the ancient land. A mostly abandoned village, a beekeeper, two poor best friends on different paths, the cunning of strangers, the support of brethren. Bees, bees and more bees with honey to please the sheikh and all his dancing girls. Modesty, intelligence, hypocrisy and intrigue.
This is a short novel that covers an immense amount of ground. Initially you feel that you may be reading a thriller, then to a pastoral drama with comic undertones, then to a lament on the state of the volatility and misguidedness of fundamentalist regimes, then to Japan to idealize what one does not truly know.
To discover that to protect your neighborhood honey is priority. To make peace with all of the literal and figurative hornets that exist in your present so that you have a small chance to enjoy whatever sweetness lies in the moment.
A multilayered little novel that is moving, humorous and important. Simple in its prose but with complex undertones and overtones that stoke the intellect and unsettle the soul.
2021 Honorable Mention with High Distinction Read
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and translator and Amazon Crossing. This novel won Prix Comar d'Or and Prix des cinq continents awards. The French version was originally published in 2017 and this English version was released in February 2021.
"If the company of men could bring about doubt in God and the meaning of His designs, the company of bees led Sidi to quite different conclusions. He floated with them in a world of petals and pollen, of rapture and labor, rejoicing in an existence united by the elements, given rhythm by the seasons, laced with rewards. He venerated the God of his bees, unknown to many humans. He admired the beauty and precision of His work in the most concrete way possible and had made himself a place in an ancient wheel moved by divine inspiration....."
Tunisia. Contemporary times. After Arab Spring. Corruption after revolution. Move towards fundamentalism. The fear of moderates throughout the ancient land. A mostly abandoned village, a beekeeper, two poor best friends on different paths, the cunning of strangers, the support of brethren. Bees, bees and more bees with honey to please the sheikh and all his dancing girls. Modesty, intelligence, hypocrisy and intrigue.
This is a short novel that covers an immense amount of ground. Initially you feel that you may be reading a thriller, then to a pastoral drama with comic undertones, then to a lament on the state of the volatility and misguidedness of fundamentalist regimes, then to Japan to idealize what one does not truly know.
To discover that to protect your neighborhood honey is priority. To make peace with all of the literal and figurative hornets that exist in your present so that you have a small chance to enjoy whatever sweetness lies in the moment.
A multilayered little novel that is moving, humorous and important. Simple in its prose but with complex undertones and overtones that stoke the intellect and unsettle the soul.
April 14, 2022
I read this book as part of my quest to read a book written by an author from each of the 196 countries in the world. The author of this book grew up in Tunisia.
As I read about books from foreign countries, I usually do some research to understand the background of a country. Tunisia is a small Mediterranean country located at the northern tip of Africa, not far from the islands of both Sardinia and Sicily, part of Italy. Its strategic location meant that it was fought over by many of the great dynasties throughout history. The Arabs invaded in the 7th century, bringing Islam with them. It became part of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century until the French took control in 1881. Tunisia gained its independence in 1956, but French is still widely spoken by a lot of the population.
This book is an allegory - basically a story within a story. This book contains a beautiful story about a bee keeper, who basically lives by himself with his bees. The location of the story is not mentioned, but due to references, it appears to be set in Tunisia around 2011-2015, right after the Arab Spring uprising. The bee keeper has discovered killer bees, that have started to decimate his hives. He learns that the bees have been brought to his country from trade with foreign countries.
(This book was written in 2017 - before the killer bees were discovered in the northwest corner of the US).
The book also contains a story about the citizens of a town that are poor, hungry, and unemployed. Their leader, who they called 'the handsome one', has fled their country and is no longer their ruler. I assume this is referring to longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who left Tunisia and fled to Saudia Arabia. The people are led to believe that they will have their long-desired democracy. But like many of the other Arab countries, this power vacuum draws religious fanatics who try to move into power.
These 2 stories are intertwined - but it is a little difficult to understand their relationship if you are not familiar with the history of Tunisia. I am glad that I have learned more about what the people of Northern Africa have been enduring.
As I read about books from foreign countries, I usually do some research to understand the background of a country. Tunisia is a small Mediterranean country located at the northern tip of Africa, not far from the islands of both Sardinia and Sicily, part of Italy. Its strategic location meant that it was fought over by many of the great dynasties throughout history. The Arabs invaded in the 7th century, bringing Islam with them. It became part of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century until the French took control in 1881. Tunisia gained its independence in 1956, but French is still widely spoken by a lot of the population.
This book is an allegory - basically a story within a story. This book contains a beautiful story about a bee keeper, who basically lives by himself with his bees. The location of the story is not mentioned, but due to references, it appears to be set in Tunisia around 2011-2015, right after the Arab Spring uprising. The bee keeper has discovered killer bees, that have started to decimate his hives. He learns that the bees have been brought to his country from trade with foreign countries.
(This book was written in 2017 - before the killer bees were discovered in the northwest corner of the US).
The book also contains a story about the citizens of a town that are poor, hungry, and unemployed. Their leader, who they called 'the handsome one', has fled their country and is no longer their ruler. I assume this is referring to longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who left Tunisia and fled to Saudia Arabia. The people are led to believe that they will have their long-desired democracy. But like many of the other Arab countries, this power vacuum draws religious fanatics who try to move into power.
These 2 stories are intertwined - but it is a little difficult to understand their relationship if you are not familiar with the history of Tunisia. I am glad that I have learned more about what the people of Northern Africa have been enduring.
August 16, 2022
This is my first completed book of my August Picks and it was a fun one! Yamen Manai takes us on a journey to the North African village of Nawa, where Sidi lives a withdrawn but settled life with his wife (who saves the day, if you ask me, but I won't spoil that for you!) raising bees. (We won't talk about how annoying I find it that he refers to these insects throughout the entire book as his "girls." Not "sweethearts," or "babies," or even "lovers," but "girls.")
The plot was a little muddled, I thought, as Manai's metaphor might have actually been a matter of conflation. The invasion of a deadly wasp on his bees' hives, which threatened Sidi's own livelihood and apparently the future of the whole region poses a serious problem-- maybe just as serious as the simultaneous storyline in which the region's neighborhoods and educational institutions become infiltrated by religious extremists? Until the very last minute, when Manai lines everything up, I wasn't sure how everything was supposed to connect. I didn't even think it related except by convenience of location.
Maybe the extended metaphor at work here needs another leg...or two...but the last couple scenes are fantastic and tie the book together beautifully. I did enjoy this book both for a great ending, and for the great research.
Do you remember how everyone squealed about how much they learned about beekeeping from THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES? Well. This book kind of shows that one way up!
Rating 3.5 stars
Finished August 2022
Recommended for fans of contemporary fiction; readers seeking diverse voices and stories
August Pick 2/10
52 Book Club Summer Genre Challenge: Other
52 Book Club 52 Book Challenge: set on at least 2 continents
*Follow my Instagram book blog for all my reviews, challenges, and book lists! http://www.instagram.com/donasbooks *
The plot was a little muddled, I thought, as Manai's metaphor might have actually been a matter of conflation. The invasion of a deadly wasp on his bees' hives, which threatened Sidi's own livelihood and apparently the future of the whole region poses a serious problem-- maybe just as serious as the simultaneous storyline in which the region's neighborhoods and educational institutions become infiltrated by religious extremists? Until the very last minute, when Manai lines everything up, I wasn't sure how everything was supposed to connect. I didn't even think it related except by convenience of location.
Maybe the extended metaphor at work here needs another leg...or two...but the last couple scenes are fantastic and tie the book together beautifully. I did enjoy this book both for a great ending, and for the great research.
Do you remember how everyone squealed about how much they learned about beekeeping from THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES? Well. This book kind of shows that one way up!
Rating 3.5 stars
Finished August 2022
Recommended for fans of contemporary fiction; readers seeking diverse voices and stories
August Pick 2/10
52 Book Club Summer Genre Challenge: Other
52 Book Club 52 Book Challenge: set on at least 2 continents
*Follow my Instagram book blog for all my reviews, challenges, and book lists! http://www.instagram.com/donasbooks *
April 22, 2021
Sidi is an elderly beekeeper in a remote Muslim village living the quiet life. But den! Giant hornets arrive and start slaughtering his beloved bees. Coincidentally, his unnamed country has just gone through the Arab Spring and democracy suddenly appears. But den! Here come the Islamic fundamentalists. What’sa humble beekeeper to do?!
Even if all you did was read the paragraph above and never picked up this novel (and it’s not great so I wouldn’t recommend it), you can tell Yamen Manai’s story is heavy on the metaphors. Bees = ordinary people who happen to be Muslim, hornets = ISIS-types. Uh huh. And… ? And that’s about all that Manai has to offer here.
I liked some parts of the novel. Like showing the reader how fundamentalists recruit people (bribery/lies/exploitation) while reminding us that Muslims are mostly the victims of terrorism and don’t support extremism. I also enjoyed getting an idea of what life is like in this remote part of the world.
But it’s mostly a very forgettable story with little going on and no real point being made besides “we gotta stand up to the fundamentalists”, which, duh. And it’s a nitpick but Japanese people don’t say “konnichiwa” when answering the phone, they say “moshi moshi” - I don’t think Manai did much research on that section of the book.
It’s fairly well-written so it’s easy to read but The Ardent Swarm is still an unimpressive novel that falls short of saying anything meaningful about its substantial subject or tell a compelling narrative.
Even if all you did was read the paragraph above and never picked up this novel (and it’s not great so I wouldn’t recommend it), you can tell Yamen Manai’s story is heavy on the metaphors. Bees = ordinary people who happen to be Muslim, hornets = ISIS-types. Uh huh. And… ? And that’s about all that Manai has to offer here.
I liked some parts of the novel. Like showing the reader how fundamentalists recruit people (bribery/lies/exploitation) while reminding us that Muslims are mostly the victims of terrorism and don’t support extremism. I also enjoyed getting an idea of what life is like in this remote part of the world.
But it’s mostly a very forgettable story with little going on and no real point being made besides “we gotta stand up to the fundamentalists”, which, duh. And it’s a nitpick but Japanese people don’t say “konnichiwa” when answering the phone, they say “moshi moshi” - I don’t think Manai did much research on that section of the book.
It’s fairly well-written so it’s easy to read but The Ardent Swarm is still an unimpressive novel that falls short of saying anything meaningful about its substantial subject or tell a compelling narrative.
August 19, 2022
In my constant desire to expand my reading palette, I have to say that I look forward to World Book Day as Amazon celebrates by making ten books available for free every year. Having said that, left to my own devices, I would probably not have bought this book which would have been a shame. It is really great and would have been to my detriment. Sidi is a beekeeper living on the outskirts of a village in North Africa when he learns that one of his beehives has been destroyed by giant hornets that threaten his entire colony. Although the suspicious species poses a threat to his entire colony, there are wider implications that involve the environment, economics, and geo-political concerns of self-sustainment. There is also another story running simultaneously about a post-revolutionary revival of Islamic fundamentalism taking over the town just as the town is about to engage in its very first attempt at democratic elections. Ultimately, this is a strong story on its face, but when considered allegorically the story broadens, deepens, and amplifies to become something that IMHO is unforgettable.
May 9, 2022
A very pleasant surprise!
This slim volume was recommended to me and I’m going to be completely honest and say that I began reading for two reasons. 1) The author is from Tunisia. I’m trying to read works from diverse backgrounds and let’s be real, I don’t see many writers from this North African country, so this was a chance to check the Tunisia box. 2) Bees and honey. I had a conversation a few years ago by a man who ran a meadery – his company makes mead, the fermented drink from honey. I was fascinated to learn that his operation bought up all the honey from the surrounding three counties and his subject matter expertise on making mead, as well as more than a passable knowledge of beekeeping and honey farming was very interesting.
So, knowing nothing more than that, I started the book – did not like the prologue at all and considered putting it down as a book that was not for me. But wait! Give it a try, my little book reading voice said.
And glad I did as this was a charming, but serious work of allegory with cultural and political significance.
Sidi is a beekeeper living in a thinly disguised North African country around the time of the Arab Spring. The former regime as gone away and his country can have free elections! But how free are they? Fanatical revolutionaries are able to persuade and coerce the local populace into unthinkable crimes for the “glory of God”.
Meanwhile, Sidi’s “girls” – his beehives – have been invaded by monster hornets and he valiantly seeks to save them.
Working on many levels, this very clever parable is a cautionary tale for a call to arms against radical fanaticism and, more than that, against political ambivalence and apathy.
Yamen Manai’s prose was straightforward and provocative and this was an enjoyable read.
This slim volume was recommended to me and I’m going to be completely honest and say that I began reading for two reasons. 1) The author is from Tunisia. I’m trying to read works from diverse backgrounds and let’s be real, I don’t see many writers from this North African country, so this was a chance to check the Tunisia box. 2) Bees and honey. I had a conversation a few years ago by a man who ran a meadery – his company makes mead, the fermented drink from honey. I was fascinated to learn that his operation bought up all the honey from the surrounding three counties and his subject matter expertise on making mead, as well as more than a passable knowledge of beekeeping and honey farming was very interesting.
So, knowing nothing more than that, I started the book – did not like the prologue at all and considered putting it down as a book that was not for me. But wait! Give it a try, my little book reading voice said.
And glad I did as this was a charming, but serious work of allegory with cultural and political significance.
Sidi is a beekeeper living in a thinly disguised North African country around the time of the Arab Spring. The former regime as gone away and his country can have free elections! But how free are they? Fanatical revolutionaries are able to persuade and coerce the local populace into unthinkable crimes for the “glory of God”.
Meanwhile, Sidi’s “girls” – his beehives – have been invaded by monster hornets and he valiantly seeks to save them.
Working on many levels, this very clever parable is a cautionary tale for a call to arms against radical fanaticism and, more than that, against political ambivalence and apathy.
Yamen Manai’s prose was straightforward and provocative and this was an enjoyable read.
March 18, 2021
3.5
The story is mostly set in an unnamed Arabic-speaking country (the author is Tunisian) a few years after Arab Spring. Democracy is new and fundamentalism is already trying to move in. Other predators are creeping in as well. An elderly beekeeper is desperate to determine how his beloved honeybees were killed by the so-called murder hornets; where the hornets came from; and what can be done to stop them.
The book was first published in its original language (French) in 2017 and is a timely translation, at least for the U.S. Before last year, I doubt most Americans had heard of “murder hornets.” At the start of this year, we should’ve recognized, if we hadn’t already, the dangers of authoritarianism to our country. A theme arising from the story is the danger of insularity.
This, the March read for The Nervous Breakdown Book Club, is an easily read, often charming little novel. The nice look of the pages is a bonus.
The story is mostly set in an unnamed Arabic-speaking country (the author is Tunisian) a few years after Arab Spring. Democracy is new and fundamentalism is already trying to move in. Other predators are creeping in as well. An elderly beekeeper is desperate to determine how his beloved honeybees were killed by the so-called murder hornets; where the hornets came from; and what can be done to stop them.
The book was first published in its original language (French) in 2017 and is a timely translation, at least for the U.S. Before last year, I doubt most Americans had heard of “murder hornets.” At the start of this year, we should’ve recognized, if we hadn’t already, the dangers of authoritarianism to our country. A theme arising from the story is the danger of insularity.
This, the March read for The Nervous Breakdown Book Club, is an easily read, often charming little novel. The nice look of the pages is a bonus.
February 5, 2023
Read Around the World: Tunisia
This is an excellent [and timely] read. I will admit it was...odd? to read this alongside The Plague by Albert Camus and Les Miserable by Victor Hugo. All three are so relevant to today [and truly for 2020 as a whole], but none more than this really well-written book. Enemies attack from the most innocuous and unexpected places and when they are unknown AND known [enemies that attack in the name of "God" {and you can insert whatever God you believe or don't believe in here - when war is being raged, it doesn't matter which God it is apparently} ] are the most viscous of attackers and the imagery here is spectacular. The story flows well and I can say that the last half hour of the book had my heart racing and took me some time to come down from it all when I finished. The author tells an amazing story [I learned things I never thought I wanted to learn] and again, the imagery is spectacular.
The trouble with trying to write a review for a book like this is this - you really need to go into this as cold as possible, with as little information as possible [and even as I look at what I have written, I am wondering if I have given too much away] and then you need to make your own assessments and decisions about what you believe - what you believe is right, wrong and ultimately, acceptable. This is that kind of book. So, there will not be anything given away here - not even the reason I gave it four stars instead of five. These reasons you need to figure out on your own. And you really should. This is a book that should not be missed.
Thank you to NetGalley, Yamen Manai, the translator Lara Vergnaud [who does a spectacular job here IMO] and AmazonCrossing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is an excellent [and timely] read. I will admit it was...odd? to read this alongside The Plague by Albert Camus and Les Miserable by Victor Hugo. All three are so relevant to today [and truly for 2020 as a whole], but none more than this really well-written book. Enemies attack from the most innocuous and unexpected places and when they are unknown AND known [enemies that attack in the name of "God" {and you can insert whatever God you believe or don't believe in here - when war is being raged, it doesn't matter which God it is apparently} ] are the most viscous of attackers and the imagery here is spectacular. The story flows well and I can say that the last half hour of the book had my heart racing and took me some time to come down from it all when I finished. The author tells an amazing story [I learned things I never thought I wanted to learn] and again, the imagery is spectacular.
The trouble with trying to write a review for a book like this is this - you really need to go into this as cold as possible, with as little information as possible [and even as I look at what I have written, I am wondering if I have given too much away] and then you need to make your own assessments and decisions about what you believe - what you believe is right, wrong and ultimately, acceptable. This is that kind of book. So, there will not be anything given away here - not even the reason I gave it four stars instead of five. These reasons you need to figure out on your own. And you really should. This is a book that should not be missed.
Thank you to NetGalley, Yamen Manai, the translator Lara Vergnaud [who does a spectacular job here IMO] and AmazonCrossing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2022
A fascinating depiction of how the average person suffers from the choices of politicians, the elite, and propaganda. The parallel to bees is simple yet effective; Like the trading of goods that results in hornets, the trade of ideals, from integrity to corruption, from free thought to fundamentalism, can have devastating impact on the health and productivity of communities. A short and thoughtful read.
March 25, 2021
This novel pairs the life of a bee keeper in an isolated rural community with the political changes in a North African country in turmoil resulting from the Arab Spring. Both stories contain hope and disappointment, loving care and violence. Sidi the bee keeper is fighting a new invasion of exotic killer hornets. Meanwhile the country is reeling from the rise of a new fundamentalist religious-political order secretly funded from foreign sources. Could the bees perhaps be an allegory?
This is a very readable book with enough suspense to seize the reader’s attention. There’s real hope that the hornets can be defeated, but the anti-science inclinations of the governing religious zealots are a hinderance. As a reader I was cheering for the bees all the way, but I had less hope for the human community. The two sides of the story intersect in interesting and unexpected ways. Indeed, the book’s ending has a violent clash that results in a less than perfect situation. Thankfully there still remains a bit of hope, but the future is uncertain.
This book was translated from the original French edition. The author is Tunisian now living in France.
This is a very readable book with enough suspense to seize the reader’s attention. There’s real hope that the hornets can be defeated, but the anti-science inclinations of the governing religious zealots are a hinderance. As a reader I was cheering for the bees all the way, but I had less hope for the human community. The two sides of the story intersect in interesting and unexpected ways. Indeed, the book’s ending has a violent clash that results in a less than perfect situation. Thankfully there still remains a bit of hope, but the future is uncertain.
This book was translated from the original French edition. The author is Tunisian now living in France.
July 14, 2020
The Ardent Swarm
Like a beehive, this small novel has a lot going on inside.
The Ardent Swarm is both the story of the beekeeper Sidi and the story of political and cultural changes in Tunisia. Each step in Sidi's journey can be seen as mirror for the changes going on around him. Yamen Manai does a great job of contextualizing his story and simultaneously making us feel empathy for his characters.
Choosing to begin the novel with a prologue was not my favorite choice, but in the context of the story, I was glad to have some political background. I think the choice to anchor the story in a small village helps illustrate the way democracy is bought and the effects of religious fundamentalist movements. Manai tackles a lot of enormous topics but keeps the tale brief and focused. After several chapters I found myself drawn back to the book whenever I set it down.
Manai paints the natural features of Tunisia with a lush and descriptive prose. I appreciate the excellent job Lara Vergnaud did with the translation. Everything felt smooth and easy to read. The novel in many ways feels like a collection of short episodes revolving around rural Tunisian life during a moment of political change. The supporting cast and their impressions of these events provided additional layers to the story.
I'd recommend The Ardent Swarm to readers interested in learning about Tunisia and those interested in a small story about big events.
On a side note I love the beautiful cover art!
Disclaimer: ARC provided by AmazonCrossing via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Like a beehive, this small novel has a lot going on inside.
The Ardent Swarm is both the story of the beekeeper Sidi and the story of political and cultural changes in Tunisia. Each step in Sidi's journey can be seen as mirror for the changes going on around him. Yamen Manai does a great job of contextualizing his story and simultaneously making us feel empathy for his characters.
Choosing to begin the novel with a prologue was not my favorite choice, but in the context of the story, I was glad to have some political background. I think the choice to anchor the story in a small village helps illustrate the way democracy is bought and the effects of religious fundamentalist movements. Manai tackles a lot of enormous topics but keeps the tale brief and focused. After several chapters I found myself drawn back to the book whenever I set it down.
Manai paints the natural features of Tunisia with a lush and descriptive prose. I appreciate the excellent job Lara Vergnaud did with the translation. Everything felt smooth and easy to read. The novel in many ways feels like a collection of short episodes revolving around rural Tunisian life during a moment of political change. The supporting cast and their impressions of these events provided additional layers to the story.
I'd recommend The Ardent Swarm to readers interested in learning about Tunisia and those interested in a small story about big events.
On a side note I love the beautiful cover art!
Disclaimer: ARC provided by AmazonCrossing via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
October 23, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this brilliant book and I can recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good read.
April 22, 2021
In his book the Ardent Swarm, Yamen Manai takes us into an intense journey in the life of the habitants of Nawa where he successfully managed to weave a gripping modern-day allegory about the complex sociopolitical landscape that developed following the Tunisian revolution.
The bees in this story represent much more than what they actually are. They're craftily used as a beautiful and compelling analogy for the wider story of this novel, the awful trap of radicalisation and political unrest that the country fell into.
Lara Vergnaud's seamless translation combined with Yamen Manai's masterful blend of lyrical prose, sarcasm, and humour made this book one of my favourite 2021 reads.
Highly recommend this one!
The bees in this story represent much more than what they actually are. They're craftily used as a beautiful and compelling analogy for the wider story of this novel, the awful trap of radicalisation and political unrest that the country fell into.
Lara Vergnaud's seamless translation combined with Yamen Manai's masterful blend of lyrical prose, sarcasm, and humour made this book one of my favourite 2021 reads.
Highly recommend this one!
June 15, 2024
The Ardent Swarm indeed! Sidi, you are the loyalest of loyals. Bees are incredible and deserve our reverence, they are what sustain us. And… long live Aya!!
April 11, 2021
An unnamed North African country sees a Dictator replaced by Democracy and a fundamentalist Party voted into power. For the poor, after a bit of hope, nothing changes except life gets tougher. At the same time, a reclusive bee-keeper has his own problems with an introduced hornet causing havoc on his hives.
The two threads work well together giving a parallel look at when man or nature experience fear, confusion and power games after the known is replaced by the unknown.
The two threads work well together giving a parallel look at when man or nature experience fear, confusion and power games after the known is replaced by the unknown.
January 6, 2021
malgré le fait que je déteste lire les livres qui parle de la révolution ce livre fait clairement l'exception.
un hymne au savoir et à la nature, un livre a portée universel car même si l'histoire se passe en Tunisie celle-ci n'est pas explicitement cité dans le livre et même les personnages ne le sont pas non plus. yamen manai possède un assez bon sens de l'humour à vrai dire il a réussi à me piquer quelques sourires lors de ma lecture.
le parallèle entre l'envahissement du pays par les frelons et celle de la Tunisie par les barbus est réellement bien trouvé, la désertification du savoir dans le pays est réellement bien décrite, j'ai appris tant de chose sur les abeilles et leurs mondes grâce à ce livre, le seul hic pour moi c'est la tendance qu'a l’écrivain à rendre l'image de l'islamiste caricaturale, ce livre m'a paru a quelques moment un peu trop viré vers les jugements.
ce livre est à lire et cet écrivain et a suivre de prés.
un hymne au savoir et à la nature, un livre a portée universel car même si l'histoire se passe en Tunisie celle-ci n'est pas explicitement cité dans le livre et même les personnages ne le sont pas non plus. yamen manai possède un assez bon sens de l'humour à vrai dire il a réussi à me piquer quelques sourires lors de ma lecture.
le parallèle entre l'envahissement du pays par les frelons et celle de la Tunisie par les barbus est réellement bien trouvé, la désertification du savoir dans le pays est réellement bien décrite, j'ai appris tant de chose sur les abeilles et leurs mondes grâce à ce livre, le seul hic pour moi c'est la tendance qu'a l’écrivain à rendre l'image de l'islamiste caricaturale, ce livre m'a paru a quelques moment un peu trop viré vers les jugements.
ce livre est à lire et cet écrivain et a suivre de prés.
February 14, 2021
Vraiment une expérience de lecture merveilleuse, pleine de saveurs et d'odeurs ... transportante!
Perhaps that did not translate through Google as beautifully as this books gorgeous language and mood.
What a spectacular journey I took in reading this riveting story so layered and nuanced that it made my heart jump. I do so hope all of Yamen Manai’s books will be translated to English... I am thinking perhaps I should start learning French just in case! I do want to follow this author for the reading of The Ardent Swarm was a delight and expanded my world! Thank you!
Perhaps that did not translate through Google as beautifully as this books gorgeous language and mood.
What a spectacular journey I took in reading this riveting story so layered and nuanced that it made my heart jump. I do so hope all of Yamen Manai’s books will be translated to English... I am thinking perhaps I should start learning French just in case! I do want to follow this author for the reading of The Ardent Swarm was a delight and expanded my world! Thank you!
January 22, 2021
Stunning
A beautifully written book which I would absolutely recommend. The comparison between nature and humans is especially poignant and I was rooting for the bees.
A beautifully written book which I would absolutely recommend. The comparison between nature and humans is especially poignant and I was rooting for the bees.
August 18, 2025
#99 Tunisia
Loved the idea.
The bee allegory—almost poetic, definitely stronger than the country storyline, but sewed together almost perfectly.
Bonus points: learned something about bees and giant hornets. 🐝
Loved the idea.
The bee allegory—almost poetic, definitely stronger than the country storyline, but sewed together almost perfectly.
Bonus points: learned something about bees and giant hornets. 🐝
February 11, 2024
No 122 in my Reading the World Journey - Tunisia
The author, Yamen Manai, was born in Tunis in 1980. Both a writer and an engineer, Manai explores the intersections of past and present, and tradition and technology, in his prose. In The Ardent Swarm (originally published as L’Amas ardent), his first book to be translated into English, he celebrates Tunisia’s rich oral culture, a tradition abounding in wry, often fatalistic humor.
The main character of this story is Sidi. Everyone knew he would give his life for his 'girls'. He is a beekeeper and loves them as if they were human. One day a devasting attack occurs on one of his hives. There are smashed and dead bodies are everywhere (30,000 of them). Sidi must determine why and by whom this happened and vows to do something about it.
Contrasted to Sidi are two other characters: Douda and Toumi. All three live in the town of Nawa, one that still seems to exist in the 18th century. There have been many rulers in Tunisia. The previous two were named: The Old One and the Handsome One. Neither has done anything to further the advancement of the people of Nawa. Enter the Party of God. With gifts of clothing and food, they convince the citizens of Nawa to vote for THEIR candidate. And tell them to vote for the candidate with the pigeon emblem (these people cannot read)
In the meantime, Sidi is bound and determined to find the cause of his hive's massacre. Douda and Toumi assist (read the book, you will see how).
I strongly recommend this book. Short but powerful.
5 stars
The author, Yamen Manai, was born in Tunis in 1980. Both a writer and an engineer, Manai explores the intersections of past and present, and tradition and technology, in his prose. In The Ardent Swarm (originally published as L’Amas ardent), his first book to be translated into English, he celebrates Tunisia’s rich oral culture, a tradition abounding in wry, often fatalistic humor.
The main character of this story is Sidi. Everyone knew he would give his life for his 'girls'. He is a beekeeper and loves them as if they were human. One day a devasting attack occurs on one of his hives. There are smashed and dead bodies are everywhere (30,000 of them). Sidi must determine why and by whom this happened and vows to do something about it.
Contrasted to Sidi are two other characters: Douda and Toumi. All three live in the town of Nawa, one that still seems to exist in the 18th century. There have been many rulers in Tunisia. The previous two were named: The Old One and the Handsome One. Neither has done anything to further the advancement of the people of Nawa. Enter the Party of God. With gifts of clothing and food, they convince the citizens of Nawa to vote for THEIR candidate. And tell them to vote for the candidate with the pigeon emblem (these people cannot read)
In the meantime, Sidi is bound and determined to find the cause of his hive's massacre. Douda and Toumi assist (read the book, you will see how).
I strongly recommend this book. Short but powerful.
5 stars
January 23, 2021
This isn't a book I would normally pick up, but it turned out to have interesting commentary on religious fundamentalism, on the trappings of instating (and buying) democracy in the aftermath of a revolution, on poverty and morality. The main character, Sidi, is committed to protecting and nurturing his beehives, and this simple motivation takes him on a journey set against the political unrest of his country. Perhaps because it is a short novel, the solution to the attacks happens almost too neatly, but maybe the appeal of this story isn't the plot so much as it is exploring the personal choices and convictions of even the more fleeting side characters, who in a short space of time interrogate and move towards what they believe in. I think the author does a pretty good job of not judging the characters, even when their choices are dubious, and here I am referring to Toumi in particular. All in all, an enjoyable read.
February 7, 2021
This was a Kindle first read freebie for me - what a fabulous pick!
The story of the bees and the hornets alongside the people of Tunisia and their struggles was perfectly told. I will not soon forget the lessons or the people in this story. A modern day parable that is perfectly relevant in our world today.
The translation was great too. Sometimes you can tell that you’re reading a translation in descriptions and some of the sentence structure - this was not the case while reading Lara Vergnaud’s translation of Manai’s book.
The story of the bees and the hornets alongside the people of Tunisia and their struggles was perfectly told. I will not soon forget the lessons or the people in this story. A modern day parable that is perfectly relevant in our world today.
The translation was great too. Sometimes you can tell that you’re reading a translation in descriptions and some of the sentence structure - this was not the case while reading Lara Vergnaud’s translation of Manai’s book.
January 24, 2022
Described as an allegory about a country in the aftermath of a revolution, this was a quick read with lovely characters. Written after the Arab Spring, the Tunisian-born author sets his story in North Africa where a small, forgotten village is drawn into the larger changes of their country. Sidi is a beekeeper whose only mission in life is to protect and nurture his bees. However, when a swarm is destroyed by murder hornets, he has to go into the larger world to find a solution. I'd love to read more by the author.
June 12, 2022
Pros: I learnt a lot about bees.
Cons: I had no idea what was happening otherwise.
Cons: I had no idea what was happening otherwise.
May 16, 2020
Un roman atypique au goût du miel malgré l'arrière goût d'amertume qu'on sent en lisant ce roman.
Nawa, le don et tout les autres pseudonymes utilisés par l'auteur dans ce récit- à la Jean de la fontaine- nous font revivre la révolution tunisienne.
Le don un apiculteur, tel qu'on peut deviner de la couverture (qui est sublime!), vit dans le village de Nawa et entretient une relation spéciale avec ses abeilles qu'il appelle ses filles. Mais la survie des abeilles avec celle du don et ses concitoyens sont menacées par des créatures toutes noires, créatures d'espèces animales et humaines.
Que s'est-il passé? D'où viennent ces créatures? Est-ce qu'ils vont réussir à les chasser?
Vous devez lire ce roman pour savoir ce qui s'est passé.
C'est un hymne à la vie, au travail, à la nature, à la beauté, à l'union.
C'est le deuxième roman que je lise de cet auteur (après la marche de l'incertitude) et je peux confirmer que Yamen Manai est l'un de mes autres tunisiens préférés.
Un chef d'oeuvre.
Bien sûr je lui attribue la note complète 5/5 (et même plus).
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Nawa, le don et tout les autres pseudonymes utilisés par l'auteur dans ce récit- à la Jean de la fontaine- nous font revivre la révolution tunisienne.
Le don un apiculteur, tel qu'on peut deviner de la couverture (qui est sublime!), vit dans le village de Nawa et entretient une relation spéciale avec ses abeilles qu'il appelle ses filles. Mais la survie des abeilles avec celle du don et ses concitoyens sont menacées par des créatures toutes noires, créatures d'espèces animales et humaines.
Que s'est-il passé? D'où viennent ces créatures? Est-ce qu'ils vont réussir à les chasser?
Vous devez lire ce roman pour savoir ce qui s'est passé.
C'est un hymne à la vie, au travail, à la nature, à la beauté, à l'union.
C'est le deuxième roman que je lise de cet auteur (après la marche de l'incertitude) et je peux confirmer que Yamen Manai est l'un de mes autres tunisiens préférés.
Un chef d'oeuvre.
Bien sûr je lui attribue la note complète 5/5 (et même plus).
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
June 25, 2020
This book is heavily laden with metaphor and a lot of material that may not appeal to the average reader in that it does draw in a lot of cultural references that many people may not recognise. The language is beautiful, and I applaud the translator for putting forth such a wonderful and true translation- it is not an easy thing to do. The story is not linear, instead opting to focus on small fragments of time and aspects of people's lives. I think the most effective part of the book was the travel through the airport and the terrifying situation that manifests when the main character is detained. How horrible it must have been for those poor bees!
There's a lot of context that seems to go missing in this book if you're not well informed about the situation that Tunisia has found itself in over the course of recent history- however, if you're willing to do a little extrinsic reading, this book carries a powerful metaphor for times of revolution, and is a timely read at the moment especially.
There's a lot of context that seems to go missing in this book if you're not well informed about the situation that Tunisia has found itself in over the course of recent history- however, if you're willing to do a little extrinsic reading, this book carries a powerful metaphor for times of revolution, and is a timely read at the moment especially.
January 3, 2021
Parable, allegory, oral tradition - call it what you will, The Ardent Swarm in its English translation is simply a beautiful story. The contrast between sociopolitical constructs and nature’s designs provides commentary, but also creates an engaging sense of pathos, Sidi is a poor country beekeeper who wants nothing more than to nurture and protect “his girls,” the honeybees that provide his livelihood and his sense of purpose. Sidi’s girls are faced with a sudden and horrific threat to their existence. The origin and nature of the threat along with Sidi’s and his friends’ responses make for a memorable and thoughtful tale.
Thank you to Amazon Crossing and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Amazon Crossing and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2022
What is it about Bees that make such a compelling theme? The Murmur of Bees, The Beekeeper of Aleppo, The Honey Bus ... all books I've thoroughly enjoyed, all with Bees as a central tenet. The Ardent Swarm is another not-to-be-missed book about bees.
Rich, evocative prose tells two stories - about Sidi and an unnamed country going through major upheaval (which is clearly Tunisia, from.which the author hails). It is a parable that is best appreciated if read that way (in fact understanding it is a parable is critical) and if one has a working knowledge of the Arab Spring and 21st Century Tuniaian history.
One of my favorites thisyear, and one I will certainly read again.
Rich, evocative prose tells two stories - about Sidi and an unnamed country going through major upheaval (which is clearly Tunisia, from.which the author hails). It is a parable that is best appreciated if read that way (in fact understanding it is a parable is critical) and if one has a working knowledge of the Arab Spring and 21st Century Tuniaian history.
One of my favorites thisyear, and one I will certainly read again.
May 16, 2025
Recensione originale: https://sonnenbarke.wordpress.com/202...
Sidi è un apicoltore per il quale le api non sono solo un lavoro, sono una passione, sono la vita stessa. Le chiama “le sue ragazze” e vive praticamente solo per loro. Un giorno però trova un’arnia completamente devastata, le api fatte a pezzi, uccise da quello che non sembra essere uomo né animale. O almeno, non di quelli conosciuti.
Si scoprirà poi che a uccidere le api sono stati dei calabroni giganti asiatici, nome scientifico Vespa mandarinia, venuti chissà come dalla Cina a questo paese nordafricano che non viene menzionato ma che è chiaramente la Tunisia, paese d’origine dell’autore. E in realtà si scoprirà anche come sia arrivato questo organismo ostile e completamente alieno per il paese e la fauna locale.
Alla storia di Sidi e delle sue api si intreccia indissolubilmente quella del suo paese, della quale anzi si fa chiaramente metafora.
Dopo una lunga dittatura ci sono finalmente elezioni “libere” e degli uomini barbuti si recano con vestiti, cibo e generi di prima necessità tra la gente del villaggio di Sidi, per convincerla a votare per il “Partito di Dio”. Ed ecco che calabroni giganti asiatici e fondamentalisti islamici finiscono per confluire l’uno nell’altro, fino a che i primi si fanno metafora dei secondi. Entrambe specie aliene, non autoctone, che dovrebbero essere rigettate dalla fauna locale ma che sembrano enormemente più forti di quelli che si trovano davanti.
Eppure, esiste un animale capace di resistere alla Vespa mandarinia, e quell’animale è l’ape giapponese, che ha sviluppato un metodo per uccidere la vespa con il calore. Chissà se anche Sidi riuscirà a introdurre questo metodo nel suo paese, e chissà se anche il suo paese riuscirà a introdurre un elemento capace di resistere ai fondamentalismi?…
Mi è piaciuto moltissimo questo libro e lo consiglio senz’altro. Purtroppo non è stato tradotto in italiano, ma potete leggerlo in inglese o nell’originale francese. L’autore scrive in francese perché vive in Francia da tempo, ma pubblica con una casa editrice tunisina affinché le sue opere siano disponibili alla gente del suo paese natale.
Sidi è un apicoltore per il quale le api non sono solo un lavoro, sono una passione, sono la vita stessa. Le chiama “le sue ragazze” e vive praticamente solo per loro. Un giorno però trova un’arnia completamente devastata, le api fatte a pezzi, uccise da quello che non sembra essere uomo né animale. O almeno, non di quelli conosciuti.
Si scoprirà poi che a uccidere le api sono stati dei calabroni giganti asiatici, nome scientifico Vespa mandarinia, venuti chissà come dalla Cina a questo paese nordafricano che non viene menzionato ma che è chiaramente la Tunisia, paese d’origine dell’autore. E in realtà si scoprirà anche come sia arrivato questo organismo ostile e completamente alieno per il paese e la fauna locale.
Alla storia di Sidi e delle sue api si intreccia indissolubilmente quella del suo paese, della quale anzi si fa chiaramente metafora.
Dopo una lunga dittatura ci sono finalmente elezioni “libere” e degli uomini barbuti si recano con vestiti, cibo e generi di prima necessità tra la gente del villaggio di Sidi, per convincerla a votare per il “Partito di Dio”. Ed ecco che calabroni giganti asiatici e fondamentalisti islamici finiscono per confluire l’uno nell’altro, fino a che i primi si fanno metafora dei secondi. Entrambe specie aliene, non autoctone, che dovrebbero essere rigettate dalla fauna locale ma che sembrano enormemente più forti di quelli che si trovano davanti.
Eppure, esiste un animale capace di resistere alla Vespa mandarinia, e quell’animale è l’ape giapponese, che ha sviluppato un metodo per uccidere la vespa con il calore. Chissà se anche Sidi riuscirà a introdurre questo metodo nel suo paese, e chissà se anche il suo paese riuscirà a introdurre un elemento capace di resistere ai fondamentalismi?…
Mi è piaciuto moltissimo questo libro e lo consiglio senz’altro. Purtroppo non è stato tradotto in italiano, ma potete leggerlo in inglese o nell’originale francese. L’autore scrive in francese perché vive in Francia da tempo, ma pubblica con una casa editrice tunisina affinché le sue opere siano disponibili alla gente del suo paese natale.
September 8, 2023
I've had this forever since I got it free from Amazon during a world literature event a few years back. I'm usually wary of these free Amazon books because they're usually boring, but imagine my surprise: I LOVED THIS!
Set in Tunisia in the aftermath of the Revolution in 2011, we follow Sibi, a humble, country beekeeper who finds one of his hives mysteriously decimated by an unknown threat. Soon we see that Sibi's bee situation is a thinly-veiled allegory for the opportunistic, vulture neocolonialism that follows the transfer of power in a democracy-lead revolution.
This was a simple yet brilliant parable that shows how people with power use religion to manipulate desperate people into shifting even more power into their hands. This was a wise little book, the future of Sidi's bees, as well as Tunisia, inconclusive as it awaits the next foreign threat that comes its way.
Set in Tunisia in the aftermath of the Revolution in 2011, we follow Sibi, a humble, country beekeeper who finds one of his hives mysteriously decimated by an unknown threat. Soon we see that Sibi's bee situation is a thinly-veiled allegory for the opportunistic, vulture neocolonialism that follows the transfer of power in a democracy-lead revolution.
This was a simple yet brilliant parable that shows how people with power use religion to manipulate desperate people into shifting even more power into their hands. This was a wise little book, the future of Sidi's bees, as well as Tunisia, inconclusive as it awaits the next foreign threat that comes its way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 928 reviews