Abbas Khider (1973) is considered one of the most important contemporary German authors. He grew up in Baghdad and was arrested as a 19-year-old for political activities against Saddam Hussein's regime. When he was released, he fled and lived as an illegal refugee in several countries before receiving a residence permit in Germany, where he studied Philosophy and Literature and has published six novels. He has won several awards for his work, which is inspired by his experience and life as a refugee. Abbas Khider made his debut in 2008 with Der falsche Inder (The False Indian). His 2020 novel Ohrfeige (Slap in the Face / Et slag i ansiktet) is now available in Norwegian. Der Palast der Miserablen (The Palace of the Miserable / De miseriges palass) will be published in early 2022. In Norway, both are translated by Merete Franz and published by Mangschou forlag.