The Baghdad Clock: Winner of the Edinburgh First Book Award

SHORTLISTED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR ARABIC FICTION 2018 For fans of The Kite Runner comes this remarkable debut, the number one bestselling title in Iraq, Dubai and the UAE It’s 1991 and the Gulf War is raging. Two girls, hiding in an air raid shelter, tell stories to keep the fear and the darkness at bay, and a deep friendship is born. And while the city collapses around them, the sanctions bite and friends begin to flee, life goes on. People tend their gardens, go dancing and celebrate weddings, and the girls share their dreams, desires, school routines and first loves. In her brilliant debut novel, Shahad Al Rawi takes readers beyond the familiar images in the news to show the everyday struggle of Baghdad’s people, revealing the reality of growing up in a war-torn city that’s slowly disappearing in front of your eyes.

About the Author :
Shahad al Rawi was born in Baghdad in 1986. She describes herself as a writer and novelist (this is her first attempt). She is currently completing a PhD in Anthropology in Dubai. Her novel went through three printings in the first months of publication. She appeared in a literary festival in Baghdad where she was described as the best new talent of her generation. Luke Leafgren received his PhD in Comparative Literature from Harvard University in 2012, after taking BA degrees in English and theology from Columbia University and the University of Oxford. He has translated several Arabic novels into English and teaches Arabic at the University of Harvard.

Review :
‘Vivid, at times surreal… the novel confronts the reality of Baghdad in the final decade of the twentieth century through the vision of a girl who often imbues it with wonder and beauty.’ "The Baghdad Clock is not just a popular winner with Edinburgh International Book Festival readers this year - it's also a brilliant winner that will live long in the memory and it established Shahad Al Rawi as a force to be reckoned with, in Arabic and English alike." ‘With tremendous talent and a sharp intelligence, Al Rawi delivers an outstanding debut. Highly recommended.’ ‘Shahad Al Rawi brings us into the city of Baghdad in the middle of the Gulf War, where people continue to go about their lives despite the war that is eroding their homes. The story centres on two girls in an air raid shelter and the friendship that blossoms around the stories they tell each other in this book filled with resilience and life.’ ‘This stirring debut follows two girls and their lives as they grow up in the war-torn city of Iraq. A poignant portrayal of the enduring bond of friendship, infused with a touch of magical realism.’ ‘Marked with a wild inventiveness and emotional depth… The Baghdad Clock is a stirring, and at times moving, portrait of two young women sticking together while everything around them falls apart…[which] provides compelling depictions of each stage of the girls’ journey to adulthood.’ ‘Al Rawi’s debut presents the so-called enemy imbued with childhood whimsy and human longing, their quotidian stories embellished with touches of magic realism. Rendered into English by Harvard professor Leafgren, who was inspired by 9/11 to learn Arabic, this international bestseller is both condemnation against politics and war and testimony to resilient humanity.’ ‘Extraordinary... The author does an incredible job of painting a portrait of a neighborhood in Baghdad [and] writes beautifully of characters who immediately captivate you — characters who are relatable, but also imbued with a sense of magic. The life she writes of has an ethereal overlay, as if life is about much more than just living through war. In a country so often dehumanized by politics, Al-Rawi reminds us of the stories and people that make Iraq what it is.’ ‘Through a child's perspective and using elements of magical realism, Al Rawi explores her protagonist's internal turbulence at a time in which uncertainty is a way of life and stability a myth.’ ‘Al Rawi writes with such enthusiasm for her subject matter, she injects her characters with beautiful quirks and personalities.’  ‘Amazing...I am in awe of [Al Rawi's] ability to share profound thoughts from the point of view of such a young woman.’ ‘The Baghdad Clock is a wonderful human book... It's a brilliant and imaginative work that will capture both your heart and your mind.’ ‘[Shahad Al Rawi] has skilfully interwoven fantasy and reality with a fine thread. She draws you through the story, leading you from one maze into another, as you stagger along in a state of perplexity, amazement and sheer delight.’