IN THE SHADOW OF SADDAM: SADDAM HUSSEIN'S FORMER DOUBLE (First edition)

Translated into English by Jalel al-Qedenni. Revised and dramatised by John O'Toole. Illustrated with colour photographs. ***Near fine in red cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The boards are clean and unmarked. No reading lean. Spine tight. Internally also near fine with no inscriptions. Pages clean. No creases or tears. ***In a near fine colour illustrated dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of £15.99. No creases or tears. No fading. Dustwrapper bright. ***328 pages including a detailed Index. 240mm x 160mm. ***'Shortly after becoming President of Iraq in 1979, Saddam Hussein met Mikhael Ramadan, brother-in-law of one of his senior officials. Ramadan resembled Saddam closely and after some minor plastic surgery he became the dictator's official double. ---Standing in for Saddam was lucrative but dangerous. There were several attempts on Ramadan's life in the years that followed. He also made enemies within. Decorated by Saddam after being wounded by a sniper during the war with Iran, Ramadan attracted the enmity of Udai, Saddam's sadistic and unstable oldest son. ---Following the murder of his wife and two children, Ramadan became involved in a Kurdish resistance movement, bent on overthrowing Saddam. On a visit to Kuwait during the Gulf War he was wounded and captured by US forces. While in hospital he became friendly with Sophie, an Iraqi-American army nurse. ---When an Iraqi unit attacked the camp and "rescued" Ramadan, they took Sophie too, for a little sport along the way. Back in Baghdad they were imprisoned and tortured. In due course, a Kurdish guerrilla force succeeded in freeing them, to be airlifted out of the country. They now live together in North America - in perpetual fear of retribution. (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) ***A first edition in near fine condition. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc. …