In light of the heart-aching events taking place in Iraq, many spectators are left overwhelmed with ineffable sorrow and helplessness towards the atrocities taking place. In dire times like these, it may come as a relief to read a novel that tackles your unspoken restlessness while raising questions about humanity and morality in times of war.
Early in January 2013, Iraqi novelist and poet Ahmad Saadawi introduced his award winning novel Frankenstein in Baghdad . Set in spring 2005, it narrates the story of a rag-and-bone man, Hadi al-Attag, who lives in the hustling district of Baghdad where numerous explosions and suicide bombings took many lives (as well as the city’s sense of peace and security). He roams the city collecting victims’ body parts and sewing them together to form a body. This body is brought to life when a displaced soul enters it. The new being, ‘the-what’s-its-name’ as Hadi refers to it, or ‘Criminal X’ as the authorities call it, or ‘Frankenstein’ as others know it, sets out to take revenge on those who murdered him and the original owners of his body parts.
While Hadi refuses to believe that ‘the-what’s-its-name’ is more than a mere fragment of his imagination, the various characters involved view ‘the-what’s-its-name’ differently, each using it as a means to their own ends.
Not knowing whose body parts it’s made of, ‘the-what’s-its-name’ sets out to avenge the victims of the bombings. But its pursuit takes a twist when it confronts an inner conflict having learned that some of its body parts belonged to the very suicide bombers who took the lives of many innocents.
Given this fascinating plot and rich themes, it’s no wonder that Saadawi’s novel was announced the seventh winner of the International Prize for Arab Fiction (IPAF) on the 29th of April 2014, earning the novelist a $50,000 prize and a guarantee for his novel to be translated to English, which opens new markets for the novel.
“We chose Frankenstein in Baghdad for several reasons. Firstly for the originality of its narrative structure, as represented in the 'what's-its-name' character, who embodies the violence currently experienced in Iraq, other Arab countries and the wider world. The story is expertly told on several levels and from multiple viewpoints,” states Saad A. Albazei, Saudi critic and head of the 2014 judges’ panel.
Some critics claim the richness the novel is achieved through the narration’s duality of earthliness and fantasy. Other see different merits. “The novel could be read as an attempt to poke fun at the sense of moral absolutism which takes the form of categorizing people into black and white, a propensity which often acts as a catalyst for war,” expressed Syrian journalist al-Mustafa Najjar. But despite the positive hype generated around the novel, and Saadawi winning the IPAF, several critics and readers have their reservations. Many readers’ comments revolved around a similar opinion that despite the plot being interesting, the novel fails to retain the same level of excitement throughout the storyline. Nevertheless, readers also expressed warm praise for the novel’s honesty in highlighting the status quo of Arab nations that constantly wait around for a figure to cling on to as their savior.
Wavering between applause and disappointment, Frankenstein in Baghdad has certainly generated a buzz. The novel is now the center of attention for avid readers the world over.
Have you added Frankenstein in Baghdad to your reading list?