Floodlines: A Novel

Synopsis

Three estranged Iraqi-British sisters are drawn back together when their late father's long-lost paintings unexpectedly resurface, forcing each of them to confront a shared inheritance shaped by exile, memory, and betrayal. As old wounds reopen, the family's past unfolds across decades and continents—from 1950s Baghdad to contemporary London, from the Tigris River to Yemeni refugee camps—revealing how art, war, and displacement continue to shape generations.

In his ambitious second novel, Saleem Haddad weaves together intimate family drama with sweeping historical scope, exploring the enduring legacies of migration, political upheaval, and cultural loss. Richly layered and emotionally resonant, Floodlines is a powerful meditation on belonging, identity, and the stories families tell to survive.

About the Author

Saleem Haddad is a novelist, filmmaker, and humanitarian advisor born in Kuwait to a Palestinian-Lebanese father and an Iraqi-German mother. Raised in Jordan and educated in Canada and the United Kingdom, he has worked extensively across the Middle East with humanitarian organizations. His acclaimed debut novel, Guapa, won the Polari First Book Prize and was named a Stonewall Honor Book. Floodlines continues his exploration of identity, exile, family, and the modern Middle East.

Publisher

Europa Editions

Publication Date

March 6, 2026

Format

Paperback

Pages

336

Subjects

Literary Fiction · Family Saga · Middle Eastern Literature · Diaspora · Historical Fiction · Contemporary Fiction

ISBN

9798889661658