Jordan Bans Saddam Hussein's Novel

Posted on June 28, 2005

Ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's novel called Get Out You Damned has been banned by Jordan officials who say the novel could harm relations between Jordan and Iraq. Before the news of the ban, Al Jazeera had reported that the book was going to be published in Jordan by members of Saddam's family.

Al Jazeera says Saddam had written a total of three novels before the Iraq War started. The names of the other two novels by Saddam are Zabiba and the King and The Impregnable Fortress.

Saddam's latest novel has also been called Get Out of Here, Curse You!, which isn't nearly as catchy as Get Out You Damned (Surely there should be a comma in there somewhere?). Because he can't use his presidential status to immediatly order the publication of his latest novel, Saddam may be forced to turn to self-publishing. Reuters reports that a London publisher rejected the right to publish the book.

Hesperus Press publisher Alessandro Gallenzi told Reuters, "We read it but thought it had very little literary value. We publish classics. I'm afraid this one does not make it."

Sorry Saddam. Hesperus Press does not consider your novel a classic.