Interview with longlisted author Alia Mamdouh

When did you begin writing The Tank and where did the inspiration for it come from?

I started working on The Tank at the end of 2013. The inspiration for every novel I have written generally comes from my beloved city, Baghdad, and especially, from the neighborhood in which the Tank is located.

Did the novel take long to write and where were you when you finished it?

Yes, it took four years to write, because of gathering the documentation needed for a book of this type. I was living in my flat in Paris.

How have readers and critics received it?

Based on the publisher’s feedback, the novel has sold very well in all the Arabic book fairs where the book has been promoted. In terms of literary criticism, there are critics who have promised to write about it. From what has been written so far, it appears to have been well received by critics.

What is your next project after this novel?

I’m currently conducting research into my next literary work: Men Without Attire – a novel.