The Dressmaker of Baghdad: An emotional historical fiction novel based on a true story

by Orna Zaig

In newly emancipated Iraq, a talented Jewish girl is caught at the crossroads between freedom and tradition to define what home and family truly mean.

Baghdad, 1946. Esther, a romantic young woman born in Mandatory Iraq, never knew her birthmother who passed away when she was just seven years old. The eldest of three siblings, she spends her days raising her younger brothers, Zion and Salman, under the watchful eyes of their cold stepmother. The only comfort she finds lies in the rich fabrics of the great city markets, sewing dresses in Western fashion brought in by the British.

Seam by seam, Esther starts to make a name for herself as a dressmaker. When the handsome Mordi and his mother move into her family’s spare room, Esther is immediately enamored. Their short romance blooms, until Mordi’s health forces them apart as he is sent to a year of recuperation abroad.

Without Mordi by her side, Esther’s life grinds to a sorrowful halt. With her one true love gone, and her country on the verge of a violent coup that will reshape its people for generations, Esther’s dream of a better life is put to the test—setting in motion a chain of events that exposes her family’s buried past and the true story behind her mother’s death.

Genres: Historical Fiction

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 17, 2025

Reviews

[Vesta Tobin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and heartwarming

What a piece of history in this novel. Following one family in Baghdad through their journeys of love and hard decisions. So touching yet sad.

[Lucy Alice (Author) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and haunting

A snippet into the lived experience of others, this book has hope and sadness and reality for many. No matter your reason for leaving your homeland, a part of you always remains, echoes of closeness and family you never have again. It's easy for people to think you've moved for a 'better life' but those people rarely realise the depth of what you've left behind, and that there is no going back. You develop two homes, and none. It's a tough reality and I really felt that loss of belonging and connection throughout this book.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dressmaker of Baghdad is set between 1943 and 1946. Although it's the story of a Jewish family, it's not what most people would expect. This isn't a story of the Holocaust, and these Jews lived lives immersed in Iraqi culture. If you've ever lived in the Middle East, the descriptions of food, markets, and sleeping on the rooftops will flood your senses. Most readers will be surprised to read how these Jews dressed in western fashions and loved Hollywood movies. This is not the Iraq that most of us envision, but it did exist. This book covers the political changes that forced most of the Jews to leave Iraq, with many going to the emerging state of Israel. This is a quick read and a cultural experience that will be new for many. It's more important than ever to have a better understanding of this troubled region.

[teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I absolutely loved this book! So well written I felt I lived in the home of Esther's, along with her siblings and step mother. The Jewish family finds themselves in a country in political upheaval. Young men were joining political groups to change the government only to be met with arrests, torture and even death . A scary time in Iraq history. Follow this family thru this period in history as they navigate their survival.

[Myrtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I didn’t expect to like this books as much as I did. It was never boring, I felt myself immersed in the narrative and anticipating each new character development. It was well written and very insightful as to young love and emotions. It was well written.

[Beep · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating look into life as a minority in the 1940's in Baghdad. The characters was interesting and well developed. My only irritation was with how the main character, Esther, could not let go of her emotional longing for a young male who had "moved on." I wanted to shake her at times!

[Noreen Bright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Baghdad 1943-1946, a fascinating insight into
the political situation for Jews at that time which forced many of them to go to the emerging state of Israel.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book really 4.5 star I love books that take me to a historical time and place and give you a feel for what it was like.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more biographical than historical fiction.. Did not keep my attention, skipping around too much.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I very much enjoyed this book. It was well written and gives insight into the struggles of how life can be in different cultures different countries.

[Kendall · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciated the history and true story but the writing was hard to get through. There was very little story until the last 30 pages.