Anthea Bell

Even as a young man, Hamid Farsi is acclaimed as a master of the art of calligraphy. But as time goes by, he sees that weaknesses in the Arabic language and its script limit its uses in the modern world. In a secret society, he works out schemes for radical reform, never guessing what risks he is running and how far the purists are willing to go to stop him. His beautiful wife, Nura, is ignorant of the great plans on her husband's mind. She knows...

Albert, the only white pig on the farm, and Lila, a chicken too old to lay eggs, suffer the ridicule of their fellow animals until they join forces and defeat a hungry fox who comes to call.