大象传媒

It has been seven years since the war in Syria began. In that time it has cost the lives of some 350,000 people. Diana Darke's new book, "The Merchant of Syria: A History of Survival" is a biography of Abu Chaker, a textile merchant who left his country to build up a business empire in the 1970s in Yorkshire. Dan Damon heard how the story of his tumultuous life reflects that of his country.

(Picture: Syria in the 1970s Credit: Getty Images)