BAGHDAD: For centuries, Baghdad’s Mutanabbi Street was a zenith for book lovers, boasting titles from all corners of the world, such that it gave birth to the Arab adage: “Cairo writes, Beirut publishes, Baghdad reads.”
But on a quiet summer morning in June, traces of that rich history appeared to be fading, and booksellers like Hussein Ali, whose wares were spread across the pavement, bemoaned depleting sales as readers increasingly opt for online copies.
“Thirty-five years ago, I would sell more than 50 copies on a day like this,” said Ali, speaking to AFP on a Friday, which marks the start of the weekend and is usually the busiest day in the book market.
“Today, I can barely sell five.”
Despite Baghdad’s long-held reputation as having one of the most avid reading populations in the Arab region, there was little evidence of that tradition remaining.
