BLOOMINGTON, Ind., November 10, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- With U.S. troops stationed in Iraq and the whereabouts of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein still uncertain, the ongoing conflict in this struggling nation has spurred many authors to pen harrowing works of nonfiction or revealing books about corrupt political leaders. However, author Tony Sharp takes readers on a fast track through the sand dunes of Iraq towards disastrous hilarity with a witty fictional work titled The House of Baghdad (now available through 1stBooks).
Sharp takes the speculations surrounding the whereabouts of Saddam Hussein and creates a believably extravagant scenario that involves plastic surgery, adultery, the media and the film industry. Colonel Doomsday is the proud, ruthless dictator of Iraq who escapes the country in the nick of time. With the help of his loyal bodyguard, Mustafa, the womanizing politician makes it to Paris, then Brazil where he finds asylum in the president's elegant villa and solace in the first lady's arms. The Brazilian president allows Doomsday to take up residence and sleep with his wife, while he figures out what to do with him. He employs the help of a retired German officer to grill his "guest" about plans to bomb America. However, Doomsday escapes once more with the help of Mustafa.
He makes his way to Ireland for a round of plastic surgery. With new faces, he and Mustafa return to Iraq and infiltrate the reformed system. Doomsday, with his new face and approach, easily wins over the people and the new democratically elected parliament. Impressed, Dan Levy, American television producer, invites this "new" politician and his bodyguard to play Doomsday and his bodyguard in a new film. The roles don't come with much difficulty for Doomsday and Mustafa as they use the film to make their final move.
With a surprising ending, The House of Baghdad is a hilarious satire on the whereabouts of a cruel dictator and the state of a nation.
An Oxford University graduate, Sharp embarked on a teaching career before jumping into the pop/jazz music scene. After two years back at Oxford as university organist, he gave harpsichord "recitals" on CBC, BBC and the South Bank concert halls in London. He says writing gives him some measure of sanity. His first book was a fantasy novel, titled The Guv'nor (Regency Press).
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