- Sinān Antūn (1967 -, Iraq) – Yā Miryām (2012, English trans. The Baghdad Eucharist, 2017). Iraq is described through the voices of the elderly Yūsuf and his niece, the young medical student Mahā. While that of the former wanders through Iraq’s history, fondly reminiscing his memories while referring to the Arabic literary heritage, the latter sees the country from a darker perspective and is unable to find a place for herself in it (reference). The novel is set in a timespan of one day, and while both characters are Christians living in a turbulent Iraq, their experiences in the city are completely different. The novel asks how the two views can continue to shape Iraq’s future together (also in R: Religion and Sectarianism: Christians and Christianity).
- Baghdad Noir (2018) edited by Samuel Shimon, is a collection of noir short stories most of whom are Iraqi. Most stories are set in Iraq in the period after the 2003 US invasion although one is set in 1950 and a few takes place between the 1970s and 1980s. What all the stories have in common is that they reflect and recreate the city of Baghdad that has been torn apart by history, sectarianism, and war. The novel is part of Akashic Books’ Noir Series that reflects on different cities of the world such as Beirut (see below in Lebanon), Tehran, and Marrakesh (see below in Morocco: Marrakesh).
- Shākir al-Anbārī (1958 -, Baghdad) – Najmat al-Battāwīn (‘The star of al-Battāwīn’, 2010). This novel offers a picture of decaying Baghdad after the US occupation of 2003, focusing on the sectarian war, kidnappings, killings, and rule of militias from 2006 until 2008. It is set in the al-Battāwīn neighborhood, which changed from a calm area to the home of gangs and criminals. Illustrative of this metamorphosis are also the main characters, a group of people from the cultural and press milieu who feel helpless and useless and meet in a building they call ‘Najma’ to reminisce, drink, and have sex with a prostitute named Aḥlām (reference) (also in 2003 – 2011 US-led Invasion of Iraq).
- Nuhā al-Rāḍī (1941 – 2004, Iraq) – Yawmiyyāt Baghdād (1998, English trans. Baghdad Diaries: A Woman’s Chronicle of War and Exile, 2003). Covering the timespan between 1991 and 2003, this memoir chronicles life in Baghdad during the 42 days of the first Gulf War and the embargo that was imposed on Iraq from 1991 onward, documenting the daily endurance of Iraqis, especially women (reference). The novel looks at the domestic life of Iraqis and includes accounts of the war being reported by outsiders. It offers names to the victims of the US-led raids and bombings that targeted the city’s infrastructure, factories, and homes, and criticizes the war and sanctions by using sarcasm (reference). It continues to follow the author’s life in exile (also in 1990 – 1991 Iraq invasion of Kuwait and the Gulf War: 1991 Gulf War).
Refrences:
In order of appearance
- Marcia Lynx-Qualey. 2017. “Book Review: Sinan Antoon’s ‘The Baghdad Eucharist’.” www.qantara.de, 7 June 2017, https://qantara.de/en/article/book-review-sinan-antoon%E2%80%B2s-%E2%80%B3-baghdad-eucharist%E2%80%B3-fading-under-fire (last accessed 18 March 2020)
- D. Wasan Murshid. 2018. “Wathīqa Sardiyah.. Qirāʾah fī Riwāyah: Najmah al-Battāwīn li-Shākir al-Anbārī.” www.almothaqaf.com, 7 November 2018. https://www.almothaqaf.com/b2/932147 (last accessed 2 February 2018)
- Dalia M. A. Gomaa. 2017. “Re-membering Iraqis in Nuha al-Radi’s ‘Baghdad Diaries: A Woman’s Chronicle of War and Exile.” Feminist Formations 29(1): 53-70, p. 53, 62