Out of Mesopotamia: Fiction Inspired by Reality
Abdoh’s 2020 war novel, Out of Mesopotamia, draws on his real-life experiences in the Middle East to offer a fictionalized account of a war journalist caught between his commitment to art and the draw of the battlefield. The novel’s protagonist is a writer embedded with militia groups in Syria and Iraq, witnessing firsthand the horrors of war while grappling with his desire to both document and participate in the conflict. Out of Mesopotamia is a raw and unflinching portrayal of the psychological toll of war, not only on soldiers but also on those who document the violence for the rest of the world.
The New York Times praised Out of Mesopotamia for its nuanced depiction of war, noting that the protagonist’s internal conflict between art and violence mirrors the broader tension between beauty and destruction that characterizes war itself. Abdoh’s decision to focus on the perspective of a war journalist allows him to explore the complex relationship between storytelling and violence, as well as the ethical dilemmas faced by those who witness atrocities and are tasked with conveying them to the world.