The Jewish Bride: Iraq's lost past

By Judit Neurink

Two women. Two different eras. One forbidden past that history tried to erase.
Can the truth of a grandmother's secrets survive a changing world?

"A powerful book that brings Iraq's lost history to life with fine plot and characters." - Amazon Reader Review

Iraq, 1940s. Rahila is growing up in a world shifting beneath her feet. As anti-Semitic threats escalate across the country, she watches her family and community vanish, drawn away by the pull of Zionism and the birth of Israel. Desperate to stay in her homeland, Rahila makes a choice that changes everything: she marries a Muslim, converts to Islam, and buries her true Jewish heritage deep within the pages of a secret diary.

Kurdistan, Decades Later. Zara is a passionate young woman swept up in the turbulent currents of the Arab Spring movement. But her life takes a dramatic turn when she discovers Rahila's long-hidden diary. Suddenly, Zara is forced to confront a shocking new reality: she is of Jewish descent. As the weight of this forgotten history looms heavily over her present, she must navigate a dangerous path to uncover her roots.

"An exceptional historical novel that beautifully mixes meticulous factual reality with compelling fiction." - Goodreads Review

Spanning two generations of strong, resilient women, their parallel journeys weave a gripping tale of forbidden romance, shifting political allegiances, and the ultimate struggle to survive in a hostile world. Zara soon discovers she is not the only one whose past hides a dangerous double identity.

"A masterfully constructed, deeply moving story that touches readers from all over the world." - Editorial Review

Written with the unparalleled, visceral realism of veteran Middle East correspondent Judit Neurink, The Jewish Bride uncovers a brushed-over chapter of history absent from schools and universities. It breathes life into the vanished quarters and forgotten stories of a time when Jews, Muslims, and Christians lived side by side.

Note to readers: This book can be enjoyed entirely on its own, or followed by its gripping standalone sequel, Rahila's Secrets.

Scroll up and click "Buy Now" to lose yourself in an extraordinary journey of hidden legacy, romance, and historical suspense today

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1980257922
• ISBN13: 9781980257929
• Release Date: March 2018
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 412 Pages
• Weight: 0.87 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.0"