Once Upon a Time in Baghdad: The Two Golden Decades - The 1940s and 1950s

by Margo Kirtikar

The young woman's close-ups of life of the Baghdad of that time are intimate memories triggered by the onslaught of the invasion of Iraq. Long seemingly lost voices come alive, painting portraits of the city, family life, customs and cultures. A young woman's coming of age in the Arab world is charmingly sketched, French Convent School, the Indian community in Baghdad, peaceful upper middle class everyday life is shown in its familiarity and self understoodness. Then again this world is set within historical developments and political interests of European and American powers in the Middle East, where the larger picture is drawn. The jump in scale continues with even larger sweeps of a cultural background drawn back to the Assyrians, the Golden Age of Baghdad until an intricate palimpsest holds the various pieces as a journey into the past with an eye on the present and a hope for the future of Baghdad, that it may become once again a blooming multicultural hub open and vibrant to the world and its inhabitants.This book is a must read for all those interested in the multi-layered past and potential of a beautiful Arab city Baghdad. 

308 pages

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Iman Omar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the best books I've ever read, covering every facet of life in Baghdad ( my birth place) in the 40s and 50s, swept me back in time to an Iraq that no longer exists, a time of elegance and prosperous.
It is a book truly gives insight, and sense of a place and time.
I will enjoy re-reading it again. I should thank the Author Dr. Margo for sharing her lovely memories. Wherever a beautiful soul has been there is a trail of beautiful memories. ...

[زينب · Rating 4 out of 5]

ذات زمن في بغداد | مارغو كرتيكار
مارغو كاتبة عراقية من اصول هندية و سورية ، او بالاحرى بغدادية مثل ما تحب تعرّف نفسها
ترويلنا بغداد بحقبة ما عاصرناهه و لا عشنا بأجواءها ، جدا جدا استمتعت بهالمزيج من الثقافات المختلفة و استمتعت ببغداد العزيزة المختلفة .
اكو هواي اشياء مخفية بسبب عمر مارغو الزغير من هاجرت و بسبب عزل عائلتها بمحيط و بيئة معينة فنكدر نشوف البيئة الي جانوا عايشين بيها بعيدا عن الاوضاع العامة للعراق و كل مشاكل و تعسفات الحكم الملكي بذيج الحقبة .
و اعتقد لو صارتلها فرصة تزور بغداد من بعد ال ١٩٦٠ الى الان جان حيخيب ظنها هواية بوضع البلد مثل ما خاب ظنها بالتغيير الجبير الي صار بدمشق بعد ما زارته بحقبة الاسد