Talking About Jane Austen in Baghdad

A London mother and an Iraqi teacher might seem worlds apart, yet their bond is unbreakable. "Talking About Jane Austen in Baghdad" by Bee Rowlatt and May Witwit beautifully captures this unexpected friendship. Would you face armed militias just for a haircut? May, a resilient, outspoken English lecturer with a Sunni-Shi'ite background, navigates the volatile streets of Baghdad daily. She dodges morning bullets, haggles for shoes in war-torn markets, and braves blockades to teach her students about Jane Austen. Meanwhile, Bee juggles life in London as a mother of three, managing PTA meetings, childhood illnesses, and keeping her household in order while playfully arguing with her husband about his scattered socks.Though from different worlds, an email connects them, revealing a friendship that transcends culture, religion, and age. Through shared laughter, tears, and personal stories, "Talking About Jane Austen in Baghdad" unfolds the friendship between these two women, who devise a clever plan to help May escape the danger in Baghdad. Bee Rowlatt, a former cabaret performer turned BBC journalist, balances her hectic career and family life in North London. May Witwit, an Iraqi Chaucer specialist, risks everything for a vital hair appointment, sharing humorous cat photos as they swap tales and hatch plans amidst chaos.