| This fantastic book is based on a
true story. Monday, November 20, 1978, the Japanese legation in Iraq announced some
arrests in Bagdad, among them the arrest of a Norwegian pastor. The announcement was not
recorded in the logbook at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Norway. However, the Norwegian pastor had written a letter to a Danish
brother, informing him that, God-willing, he planned to travel to Cairo, Friday, November
17. His wife expected Sigurd Bratlie to arrive home in Norway about November 24. Her
husband did not appear, however, whereupon she decided to contact the Norwegian Department
of Foreign Affairs. She was assured that they knew nothing about any arrests, but promised
to investigate the matter. Word came from the Iraqi Foreign Department that they had
absolutely no knowledge of anyone by the name of Sigurd Bratlie.
Almost four weeks had passed since there had been any sign
of life from the Norwegian. Many have reckoned that the dramatic imprisonment of Sigurd
Bratlie was an inexplicable political game. However, the whole case was followed closely
by an alert Norwegian journalist in Bagdad. It was not difficult for a good media nose to
sniff out the details of a pretty explosive and delicate story……….
In Mission to Bagdad, we meet the story-teller Kjell Arne
Bratli at his best, both as an artist of style and as the writer of a suspense story.
Fortuna Forlag, Norway.
ISBN 82-7668-036-4 |
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