Frankenstein in Baghdad: My Thoughts and Link to a Review

Linked below is a review to Ahmed Saadawi’s Frankenstein in Baghdad. The review is from World Literature Today, and gives the novel a favorable review. The novel is often praised by critics for its layered narratives and for its description of violence during the American invasion of Baghdad. The novel was a nice change of pace during our one text course, and was interesting in relation to Mary Shelley’s original novel. It offered a chance to be entertained by many similarities between the two novels, but was a breath of fresh air for its many differences. It was also nice to see the differences in language between the 1818 prose and the more contemporary language use in Frankenstein in Baghdad. Mary Shelley’s version struck me as more dark, language heavy, thematic, and depressing. I believe that Shelley’s work is more complex and important, offering many opportunities for deep reflection. It also masters Gothic elements, and elements of the Romantic period. On the other hand, Frankenstein in Baghdad is easier to read, and though contains confusing characters and layered narratives, is less complex. Though not as beautiful and haunting as the original, Saadawi’s novel is more entertaining. It offered a nice change of pace in the course and was full of interesting parallels to the original, as well as new adventures.

 

https://www.worldliteraturetoday.org/2018/january/frankenstein-baghdad-ahmed-saadawi