Ahmed Saadawi's Frankenstein in Baghdad is a darkly satirical novel reimagining Mary Shelley's classic in war-torn Baghdad, where a junk dealer creates a corpse from body parts of bombing victims. Through this monster's quest for justice and revenge, Saadawi explores the cycle of violence, the nature of victimhood, and how war dehumanizes everyone. The novel becomes both horror story and political allegory, proving that Frankenstein's questions about creation, responsibility, and monstrosity remain devastatingly relevant.

WHY WE PICKED IT: Because Saadawi understands that Baghdad's reality is already horror, and that Frankenstein's monster is the perfect metaphor for a society stitched together from violence. This novel reminds us that the best retellings use classic stories to illuminate contemporary traumas.

DETAILS: • Author: Ahmed Saadawi • Publisher: Penguin Books • Format: Paperback • Publication Date: January 23, 2018 • ISBN: 9780143128793 • Ships direct from distributor in 3–7 business days