Saddam City
Saddam City by Mahmoud Saeed, published by Saqi Books in April 2004, is a poignant narrative that delves into the harrowing experiences of Mustafa Ali Noman, a teacher in Baghdad who is arrested as he arrives at school. Over the course of fifteen months, Mustafa endures brutal interrogations and is moved between prisons, all while being cut off from his family. The novel presents a stark portrayal of life under the oppressive regime of Saddam Hussein, highlighting the arbitrary nature of justice and the psychological toll of such tyranny.
Readers will find a vivid account of Mustafa’s struggle to maintain his grip on reality amidst the chaos and brutality he witnesses. The narrative evokes themes reminiscent of the works of Kafka and Solzhenitsyn, as it explores the depths of human suffering and resilience in the face of oppression. With its straightforward narration, Saddam City offers a compelling insight into the experiences of individuals caught in the web of political repression, making it a significant contribution to contemporary fiction set in the Middle East. This edition spans 120 pages and is presented in English.
Official synopsis Publisher
One morning Mustafa Ali Noman, a teacher in Baghdad, is arrested as he reaches the school gates. For the next fifteen months he witnesses countless scenes of torture as he himself is brutally interrogated, shuffled from prison to prison and barred from contacting his family.
The question of his guilt or innocence clearly irrelevant, Mustafa must fight to retain a grip on reality. ‘How do I know that I am not dreaming this?’ he asks.
Mahmoud Saeed’s devastating novel evokes the works of Kafka, Solzhenitsyn and Elie Wiesel in its account of wanton treatment by Saddam Hussein’s feared secret police. Narrated in a straightforward manner that makes it all the more vivid, Mustafa’s story testifies to the brutal arbitrariness of life under tyranny.
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