Set against the backdrop of 8th-century Basra and contemporary Cairo, The Orchards of Basra is a lyrical, multi-layered novel that explores the boundaries between dreams and reality. The story follows Hisham, a modern-day book reseller in Cairo, who becomes increasingly obsessed with a series of vivid dreams. In these dreams, he is Yazid ibn Abih, a poor basket maker living in the golden age of Basra. As Hisham delves deeper into the life of his historical counterpart, the novel examines the rich intellectual and philosophical debates of the era—specifically the Mu’tazilite school of thought.The narrative weaves together Hisham’s mundane modern struggles with Yazid’s spiritual and physical journey through the lush orchards of Iraq. It is a meditation on memory, the weight of history, and the timeless human struggle for freedom of thought. Longlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, this novel bridges centuries to tell a story about the stories we tell ourselves to survive.
