Hesperus to publish Saddam Hussein novella

Hesperus Press will later this year publish a novella written by Saddam Hussein.

The novella is “a mix between Game of Thrones and the UK House of Cards-style fiction”, and its publication will be tied to the launch of a new imprint focusing on eastern literature, a spokesperson said.

Hesperus holds world rights to the book, which will be released in December – the first time it has been translated into English – to mark the 10th anniversary of Hussein’s execution.

The manuscript for the novella was reportedly carried out of Iraq by Saddam’s daughter in 2003. It focuses on a tribe living by the Euphrates river 1,500 years ago, which ousts an invading force, and has been published in other languages with titles such as Begone Devils and Get Out, You Damned One, according to The Guardian.

Hesperus hit the headlines last year after it was accused of failing to pay royalties for its edition of The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared to author Jonas Jonasson.

Hesperus came to a settlement agreement in May this year with Hachette Book Group over the issue. The latter owns world English rights to the book.