Local authors launch new books at Mosul International Book Fair

2024-10-02 | 18:33

MOSUL – Two Mosul-based authors introduced their latest works on Tuesday during the sixth day of the Mosul International Book Fair. Poet Hanaa Ahmed launched her new collection of literary texts, “Tuesday Group Photo,” while theater director and novelist Bayat Marai presented his novel “Descendants of Gogol’s Overcoat.”

Hanaa Ahmed told 964media that her book originated from short texts she had shared on social media. “My followers and many colleagues and friends encouraged me to turn these posts into a book,” she said. The publication was timed to coincide with the book fair.

“This is my second literary book,” Ahmed said, referring to her earlier poetry collection, “Rent My Sorrow from My Yacht.” She also mentioned her critical works, “The Dialectic of Poetry and Prose,” which won the 2018 Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity, and “A Poem About the Private Sector,” published earlier this year by the Union of Writers.

Ahmed explained her personal connection to Tuesdays, which became a recurring theme in her writing. “Tuesday was always a challenging day during my school years, packed with lessons. My closest followers know my thoughts on this day,” she shared. The event drew many friends and colleagues, and Ahmed expressed her joy at their support.

Bayat Marai also signed copies of his third novel, “Descendants of Gogol’s Overcoat.” The 100-page novel took three years to complete. Marai explained that the novel uses coats as symbols for human life, depicting how life evolves from birth to death, with events unfolding through both sorrow and joy.

The title of Marai’s novel refers to the famous short story “The Overcoat” by Russian author Nikolai Gogol. Published in 1842, “The Overcoat” is considered one of the most influential works in Russian literature, telling the story of Akaky Akakievich, a poor government clerk who, after acquiring a new overcoat, experiences a brief sense of pride and social recognition before his coat is stolen, leading to his downfall.

Marai has previously published two novels, “Cold Stab” and “Skull Alley,” as well as a collection of short stories, several theatrical texts, and three screenplays.