Famed Baghdad booksellers lament fading legacy as sales dwindle

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.

Raccontata daarabnews.com