Frankenstein in Baghdad

After the American invasion and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Iraq plunges into the depths of chaos. Baghdad is on fire, and on its rubble-strewn streets, Hadi, a local drunkard and eccentric, collects body parts torn apart by explosions and stitches them together to create a single, complete body. After all, everyone has the right to a proper burial. But after one stormy night, the assembled corpse disappears, and a wave of mysterious murders sweeps through the city. Rumours begin to spread about a terrifying, immortal criminal. Hadi soon realises that his creation is behind it all: a monster that needs human flesh to survive, first from those responsible for its own death, and then from anyone else who has committed a crime. But in the midst of the turmoil of war, can anyone truly be found innocent?
Saadawi’s intelligent, satirical take on Mary Shelley's classic novel, which blends the supernatural with images of harsh reality, has received international acclaim, winning the IPAF award and being shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. It is not only a unique portrayal of life in a war-torn country but also poses universal questions about guilt, punishment, and justice that people all over the world seek answers to.