The Demonic Comedy: Some Detours in the Baghdad of Saddam Hussein
by Paul William Roberts
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Description
Roberts first entered the tyrannical realm of Iraq in early 1990, while carrying out research for a book. Alone, and with only his wits to guide him, he journeyed into a dark landscape devastated by misery and conflict. Incredibly, Roberts returned to Baghdad in 1991 at the height of the Gulf War. One of the few journalists to penetrate the Iraqi border, he was arrested by soldiers on the outskirts of the capital and witnessed the appalling number of civilian casualties and the nightmare of show more the Allied bombing of the city before he eventually escaped into Turkey. Returning once more in 1995, Roberts saw what remained of Baghdad and its people after the war; although the city had been torn asunder, the human spirit still flickered on, and while many people he met told horrific and chilling tales, there were also occasions when the author came across stories and events which were bizarre, ludicrous and even amusing. This volume is a travel memoir and an eyewitness testament to the horrors of dictatorship, the devastation of war and the fortitude of human nature. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
There's been a lot written about the Iraq war and Saddam Hussein, but the Demonic Comedy remains one of my favorite accounts of the build-up to, chaos of, and destruction after the war. This has a lot to do with Robert's writing style in the book, which features extremely informative historical and political backstory interlaced with personal anecdotes and reflections that often reach gonzo-like status. Roberts isn't afraid to reflect on the dark absurdities that present themselves in a war-torn dictatorship (His experiences at the Babylon Festival had me crying from laughing so hard), but is also comfortable examining the actions of both sides of the conflict. Equally thought-provoking and amusing, The Demonic Comedy offers a candid show more and personal account of a country's conflict with the world and the inhabitants stuck in the middle. show less
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Author Information
8+ Works 432 Members
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Saddam Hussein
- Important places
- Iraq; Baghdad, Iraq
- Important events
- Iraq War
- Epigraph
- Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground. - Jelaluddin Rumi
- Dedication
- For Elijah and Arabella
- First words
- My journal entry reads "Feb 15, Cairo. Saddam's boy (mugged). Tomorrow 11:30 - meet Boutros-Ghali..."
- Blurbers
- Lapham, Lewis H.; Sandborn, Tom; Macarthur, John R.; Bragg, Robert; Winchester, Simon
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 39
- Popularity
- 744,543
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.71)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 6
