Old bookstores in Baghdad

On the east bank of the Tigris River in the heart of Baghdad, Iraq, numerous bookstores open their doors every morning. Some of these have existed for decades, despite war, factional conflicts, and insecurity.

According to Xinhua News Agency, al-Assriyah is one of the oldest bookstores on al-Mutanabbi Street. It was founded in 1914. The owner, Ayad al-Qamousi, 60, says the founder of the bookstore was the poet Mahmoud Helmi.

“My father bought the bookstore from the founder in 1964 after he got too old,” said al-Qamousi. The al-Assriyah bookstore has many old books, some dating back to the 19th century. In addition, the bookstore also has many rare books.

Meanwhile, the Al-Assri bookbinding workshop, established in 1920, is another long-standing business in the book market on al-Mutanabbi Street. This workshop also sells books. Eighty-year-old Abboud Mohammed al-Falluji inherited the business from his father and decided to hand over the bookbinding workshop to his sons and grandsons. Passing through the nearby al-Saray market, people often stop at a small bookstore filled with memories and history of Baghdad.

Akram al-Filfily, over 60 years old, owner of the al-Filfily bookstore, listens as customers ask him about the oldest books and rare historical reference materials. The al-Filfily bookstore was founded in 1930 and is the only bookstore remaining in the al-Saray market since its establishment.

The ongoing factional conflicts and violence in Iraq significantly impacted the country's book market. On March 5, 2007, a suicide bomber attacked the book market on al-Mutanabbi Street, killing at least 26 people, injuring more than 50 others, and burning down several bookstores. The incident led some bookstore owners to abandon their businesses, while others switched to selling stationery after their property was damaged.

Long-established bookstores provided valuable books and historical documents to the intellectual class, writers, and thinkers in Iraq. Jamal al-Bazzaz, a retired professor at Baghdad University, said that many families in the country preferred to have their own home library because the book collection reflected the family's cultural level.

Abboud Mohammed al-Falluji, 80, inherited the business from his father and decided to hand over the bookbinding workshop to his sons and grandsons. Passing through the nearby al-Saray market, people often stop at a small bookstore filled with memories and history of Baghdad.

Akram al-Filfily, over 60 years old, owner of the al-Filfily bookstore, listens as customers ask him about the oldest books and rare historical reference materials. Founded in 1930, the al-Filfily bookstore is the only one remaining in the al-Saray market since its establishment.

The ongoing factional conflicts and violence in Iraq significantly impacted the country's book market. On March 5, 2007, a suicide bomber attacked the book market on al-Mutanabbi Street, killing at least 26 people, injuring more than 50 others, and burning down several bookstores. The incident led some bookstore owners to abandon their businesses, while others switched to selling stationery after their property was damaged.

Long-established bookstores provided valuable books and historical documents to the intellectual class, writers, and thinkers in Iraq. Jamal al-Bazzaz, a retired professor at Baghdad University, said that many families in the country preferred to have their own home library because the book collection reflected the family's cultural level.

THU NGA

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-te/doi-song/nhung-hieu-sach-lau-doi-o-baghdad-727200