One of the Britain’s most prestigious literary prizes; the Samuel Johnson Prize (the most valuable award in non-fiction), this year has a suprise nominee.
A 27-year-old Iraqi university graduate, writing under the pseudonym Riverbend – the blog chronicles three war-ravaged years in her home city – Baghdad. The name of her blog is “Baghdad Burning”.
She is up against literay giants such as Alan Bennett, AN Wilson and Kathryn Hughes in the running for £30,000 prize money.
Little is known about the author of Baghdad Burning, who prefers to remain anonymous. A former computer programmer before the invasion, she lost her job as travel to and from her workplace became too dangerous. Instead she has chronicled her anger and fear in her blog posts.
Though her chances of winning the prize look bleak, however I sincerely hope that she does win.
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