Ben Barka Lane

Published in Iraq in 1970 and subsequently banned, Saeed’s novel appears for the first time in English. In 1964, Iraqi political refugee Sharqi arrives in al-Mohammediya, Morocco, to teach high school and finds a country in turmoil, following the exile of leftist opposition leader Mehdi Ben Barka (for whom his street is named), and an oppressive government in the hands of King Hassan II. Still, the city is filled with small pleasures for Sharqi, including a busy coffee shop, a light-filled apartment, and willing Moroccan prostitutes. He only wants peace following his flight from his homeland, but when he meets Habib, a comrade of al-Mehdi living under house arrest, or “compulsory fixed residence,” they strike up a friendship. His fascination with Ruqayya, a beautiful young woman who is enamored of Habib, pulls him into the country’s political unrest. Saeed (Saddam City) portrays a bygone time, but the passion and politics of his story resonate today in the wake of the Arab Spring. The rhythm and pace of the prose feels stilted at first but gathers momentum as the characters come to life and the stakes of their ordinary decisions play out in a hyper-politicized society. (July)