Author Ali Bader launches new novel on Abdul Karim Qasim, Iraq’s first prime minister

BASRA — Al-Farahidi Street, a cultural hub in Basra, drew a large crowd of literature enthusiasts Saturday for the signing of “The Leader: Weapons and Maps,” the latest Arabic novel by prominent Iraqi writer Ali Bader. Bader expressed his delight to 964media at meeting readers in Basra, calling the city a cultural scene that “challenges authors.”

“I am very glad to meet the readers of Basra. It is my first time signing a book here and hearing their opinions and questions,” Bader told 964media. “The Basra readers are sharp and characterized by keen intellect, making the discussion around the novel ‘The Leader’ enjoyable.”

Ali Bader is one of Iraq’s most influential writers, with 18 novels, two short story collections, eight essay collections, three travel books, four plays, and three poetry collections to his name. He has also written several film scripts and articles for Arab and international newspapers. His works have won numerous awards and been translated into multiple languages.

Published by Al-Mada Publishing House, “The Leader” explores the life of Abdul Karim Qasim, Iraq’s first prime minister after the monarchy’s abolition, covering the period from his birth in 1914 through to 1958. Written with multiple narratives, the novel is the first in a planned trilogy about Qasim’s life.

Al-Farahidi Street, established in 2015, is home to more than 42 bookstores and four local publishing houses. The street has become a cultural center in Basra, akin to Baghdad’s Al-Mutanabbi Street.

Last week, Bader attended a book signing for his novel in Erbil at an event organized by the Al-Mada Reading Club in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut, where he discussed the book with readers.

“The Leader” traces Qasim’s journey from his birth during World War I to the 1958 revolution that ended Iraq’s monarchy. The cover describes it as “a historical exploration of the life of Iraq’s most popular leftist leader,” focusing on Qasim’s rise to power and the assassination of King Faisal II in 1958.

Iraq’s monarchy was abolished on July 14, 1958, following a coup led by Qasim and fellow officers, an event still controversial in Iraq. Some view it as a revolution, while others see it as a violent coup. Until last year, July 14 was an official public holiday in Iraq, but it is no longer recognized as such.

Faisal II, the last king of Iraq, ruled from 1939 until his assassination on July 14, 1958, during the revolution led by Abdul Karim Qasim. Qasim’s government was overthrown in 1963 by the Ba’ath Party in a violent coup. After his removal, Iraq experienced continued political instability, with a series of yet more coups until the Ba’ath Party ultimately consolidated power in 1968.

Bader’s novel seeks to revive a “forgotten history,” drawing on newspapers and oral narratives while avoiding official accounts. It reflects on the birth of modern Iraq, starting with Qasim’s birth during the British Empire’s redrawing of Iraq’s borders in 1914, and highlights how global events shaped Iraq’s turbulent history.

“Through this postcolonial work, readers gain a clear understanding of what the people experienced, even depicting what Baghdad looked like before the royal family’s assassination. The novel serves as a repository of lost history in Iraq, fulfilling the intrinsic need to let the past flow freely,” the book cover explains.

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