Zabiba and the King: By its Author Saddam Hussein Paperback – 17 May 2004

Saddam Hussein's romantic fable 'Zabiba and the King'is a fascinating and moving work which provides a unique insight into the psyche of the former Iraqi dictator. (Two of Saddam's former interpreters have confirmed that he penned it himself.) The reader witnesses how the intimate friendship between a lonely, unhappy king and an unusually perceptive and spirited peasant girl paves the way for the abolition of a decadent monarchy and the establishment of a popular government. In the wide-ranging dialogues between the protagonists, ego-consciousness and soul-consciousness, man and woman, ruler and people are gradually reconciled. 'Zabiba and the King' appears to be a genuine attempt by Saddam Hussein to resolve some of the contradictions in his own nature and his political philosophy. While CIA analysts focused on the allegorical dimension of the novel, it is open to multiple interpretations like all genuine works of literature. Interestingly, the narrator is retelling an edifying tale which his grandmother once recited to a rapt audience of village youngsters huddled in a draughty mud hut - a reminder of Saddam's humble origins.

I picked this up to get a glimpse into Saddam's mindset - how often can you look into the mind of dictator as self-insert character? I don't feel like I discovered much.This book is the very least of Saddam's sins and yet it is the one that has personally vexed me the most. It's galling as either a romance or a socratic dialogue. Perhaps it is better in the original language, perhaps you have to know a lot about 90s Iraqi politics to appreciate the allegories? But truthfully I think the whole thing is a rushed mishmash of ideas struggling to hang on to a dull framing device.

Is it written by Sadam, this we will never know, but it is possible. What hits me in a very negative way is the fact what kind of picture has been used. I have read books by real dictators killing millions in they time, yet no picture of them days before execution, and in they worse ever have been used in those

thanks for God that I have seen all Sadam Husain books, as reader many primaries points were missing, example were Sadam has ask the publisher and booker seller that all the money that the books are making Should go to people with learning difficulty, family with low income [ is missing from the book] which I have never seen any modern leader letting has biography books to be sold for charity.Another example, his image should be removed from the cover because the real cover which has come out at first should be use.Other example 400 page from his book how it comes to 300 pages, I shall leave that for publisher.sadam Husain has refuse has name to be in front any his book all it said the book [ book by the author]All can advice that the books can be reach Iraq and can be scan to your PC and with many Software can be translate to your language instate buy this book.