The Demonic Comedy: Some Detours in the Baghdad of Saddam Hussein

by Paul William Roberts

British-born journalist Roberts collects here his interview with the Iraqi leader while covering the 1990 Arab Summit and accounts his experience as one of the few journalists to witness the devastation of civilians during the Gulf War from Baghdad itself, and his return for the International Babylon Festival in 1995. He draws on interviews with the US ambassador to argue that the Bush administration knew that the Iraqis were going to invade Kuwait and knew what Americans stood to gain by it. His style is often reminiscent of Hunter Thompson. Some of the material has been published in Saturday Night (May 1991) and Harper's (1996); the volume was first published by Stoddart Publishing in Canada in 1997. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Genres: Travel, History

294 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Paul William Roberts (1950 – May 17, 2019) was a Canadian writer who spent many years in Toronto before moving to the Laurentians in Quebec upon losing his vision.

Born in Wales and educated at Exeter College, Oxford, where he gained a second in English Language and Literature, Roberts moved permanently to Canada in 1980. He lived for several years prior to this in India, where he taught at Bangalore University and studied Sanskrit at the Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi.

Reviews

[Larry Epp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given to me by a friend, rescued from a thrift store, knowing my family had lived in the area during the first Gulf War. Roberts uses Dante's "Divine Comedy" as a frame for looking at the Middle East -- specifically Saddam's Iraq just before and after the first Gulf War. He is at times hilarious (his ability to mimic accent is pretty good) and at times horrific and scary. He does a good job too of sketching a back story for much of the action. And, in the last half, as I also experienced it, the two persona (public and private) of Iraqi citizens living under Saddam. Does a good job too of detailing the West's (especially American) complicity. Hard to put down.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this about 20 years ago. It impacted me so much that it would eventually inspire me to take up writing myself.

[Taylor Crowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books of all time. His style of writing really connected with me. I love all of his books but this one was the best.

[Pamels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written befor 9/11. Informative and humorous.

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!