Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein wrote a romantic novel (Picture: AFP/Getty)

Saddam Hussein wrote a romantic novel and you can buy it on Amazon ahead of Valentine’s Day.

If you’re at a bit of a loss over what you should get your other half for Valentine’s Day, then we may have the solution.

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In 2000, brutal Iraqi regime leader Saddam Hussein published a romantic novel.

And what says romance like an 160-page allegorical love story written by a dictator?


Unsurprisingly Hussein’s novel, Zabiba and the King, did not make it on to any bestseller’s lists or reach critical acclaim – though it was scrutinised by the CIA following its release.

The plot, set thousands of years ago, features a love story between an Iraqi king (no prizes for guessing who he is based on) and a lowly villager called Zabiba, who represents the people in this poorly-veiled metaphor.



The characters’ relationship develops as they discuss religion, nationalism and other heart-warming topics.

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In case you’re looking to inject a bit of spice into your love life, the novel contains one particularly odd scene during which a character describes, in great detail, a sex scene between a shepherd and a bear – which is thought to represent the relationship of Iraq and Russia.

The novel is for sale on Amazon, where it has received a mix of reviews, including ‘Zabiba and the King is a fascinating and moving work’, ‘this book was absolutely horrible’ and ‘buy it as an historical curiosity, not for literary entertainment. It is a complete trainwreck of a book’.

Saddam Hussein addresses the court during his trial in Baghdad February 14, 2006 (Picture: Reuters)

Saddam Hussein in Amman, Jordan on November 11, 1987 (Picture: Getty)

Zabiba and the King is one of four novels attributed to Hussein, although agents from the CIA suspected that Hussein didn’t write it and instead supervised its production while relying on ghostwriters.

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On the whole, Hussein’s novels tended to focus on a heroic protagonist.

Damned One, Get Out Of Here featured the story of an Arab warrior who saved his home town from a plot to revolt and overthrow the leader. The novel featured a foreword by Hussein’s daughter.

While Begone, Demons – a 256-page book on the struggle between the Middle East and America – was reportedly concluded by Hussein in the days before the US invaded Iraq in 2003.

H/T: Business Insider.