“The Author”/“The Writer” Character Analysis in Frankenstein in Baghdad

The “author” or the “writer” is an unnamed character in charge of turning the story of the Whatsitsname into a novel. The author purchases Mahmoud’s digital recorder, which the journalist is selling in order to settle his remaining debts before returning to his hometown of Amara. Fascinated by the story of the Whatsitsname on the recorder, the writer researches the story in depth and receives tips from anonymous sources, including the “second assistant,” which allow him to compose a novel. The author is later arrested and interrogated by the Committee because of his knowledge of confidential information concerning the Tracking and Pursuit Department. Although the Committee releases him on the condition that he will not rewrite his novel, the author ignores this. At the end of the novel, the author flees Baghdad after learning that he is going to be arrested once more. The author’s experience highlights the dangers of storytelling in such a politically explosive context, in which even writing fiction can be seen as a threat to authority.

“The Author”/“The Writer” Character Timeline in Frankenstein in Baghdad

The timeline below shows where the character “The Author”/“The Writer” appears in Frankenstein in Baghdad. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Truth, Lies, and Storytelling Theme Icon

...files from the department were illegally divulged via e-mail to a person known as “ the author ,” who was later arrested. Among the author’s belongings, the officers found a story divided... (full context)

...activities. The Committee also notes that the information they had concerning the identity of “ the author ” was false. They recommend re-arresting the author in order to assess whether or not... (full context)

...visitor with a digital recorder came to visit him, telling him that he was “ the writer .” The man wanted to hear Abu Salim’s stories. (full context)

The writer recalls meeting Mahmoud in a café in Baghdad full of intellectuals and artists. Mahmoud, in... (full context)

Power, Authority, and Social Divisions Theme Icon

Curious about Mahmoud’s story, the writer listened to the former journalist recount the difficulties at the magazine. Mahmoud was currently gathering... (full context)

One day, the writer received an e-mail from the “second assistant,” who sent him confidential documents from the Tracking... (full context)

The writer notes that, although he initially doubted the story that Mahmoud told him over the course... (full context)

Although Brigadier Majid was asked to retire, he succeeded in joining police headquarters outside Baghdad. The writer visited Aziz’s coffee shop multiple times to receive news of Hadi. The last he heard... (full context)

The writer kept on receiving messages from the anonymous “second assistant.” The last document he received was... (full context)

Ultimately, the writer was arrested for penning this story, composed, at the time of his arrest, of 17... (full context)

...to send neither an apologetic e-mail nor an insult. Instead, he forwards Saidi’s message to the writer and leaves the internet café. (full context)

Mahmoud later tells the writer that he decided not to answer Saidi because it was possible that Saidi’s message was... (full context)