Haitham Boudi Recalls "Al-Ahmar Al-Shahat"

Mufreh Al-Shammari continues novelist Haitham Boudi’s literary project of documenting Kuwaiti memory through the “Kuwaiti Epics” series, presenting a new novel titled “The Hunchbacked Beggar,” with the subtitle “The Thief of Al-Mubarakiya: Kuwait’s Most Famous Thief of 1922.” The book is scheduled for release in October and will later be showcased at the 49th edition of the Kuwait International Book Fair, taking place from November 18 to 28.

This publication extends Boudi’s initiative to evoke the figures and events that shaped Kuwaiti society, through novels grounded in historical facts and folk tales, reimagined in a narrative style that blends suspense with documentation, offering readers the chance to experience the past with all its human details.

The novel “Souq Al-Gharballi,” published three years ago, was one milestone in this project. Its new edition now bears the title “Souq Al-Mubarakiya,” a name emotionally tied to Kuwait and the Gulf, and a symbol of the place’s memory and ancient history. Boudi believes this title gives the novel broader resonance, bringing it closer to Gulf readers who recognize Souq Al-Mubarakiya as one of Kuwait’s most prominent historical landmarks.

In his new novel, “The Hunchbacked Beggar,” Haitham Boudi takes readers to Kuwait in 1922, when the markets of Al-Mubarakiya were bustling with commercial activity, and one of the most thrilling stories in popular memory was born. The “Hunchbacked Beggar” emerges as a man who became Kuwait’s most notorious thief of that era, baffling merchants and sparking conversations in markets and gatherings.

However, the novel does not present the “Hunchbacked Beggar” merely as a tale of theft. It goes further to reveal details of Kuwaiti society during that period: the nature of the markets, interpersonal relationships, lifestyles, trade practices, and how society dealt with crime before the establishment of modern state institutions. Through these details, Boudi paints a vibrant picture of old Kuwait, giving readers the opportunity to delve into an era filled with transformations and human stories.

The work is distinguished by its balance between historical truth and fictional narrative. Characters move within a documented historical space, while events unfold in an engaging format that preserves the spirit of the place and offers readers enjoyment without compromising the novel’s documentary value.

Through this publication, the “Kuwaiti Epics” series continues its mission to revive figures who left an imprint on popular memory, presenting them to new generations in a contemporary style that safeguards history from oblivion and affirms that the novel can serve as a bridge connecting the past with the present.