![Iraqis check books at the Howeish book market in the holy city of Najaf, 150 kilometres (95 miles) south of Baghdad, on August 16, 2018.
In the covered alleyways of old Najaf in Iraq, poetry and philosophy books compete with economic treatises, the Koran and other theological tomes for students' attention. / AFP / Haidar HAMDANI](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4SL5GNS4KX5FMCQBUXAISLB7PA.jpg?smart=true&auth=60c121403abebba02ca071977ab70390fd3ae7f8846c4c77a4c9a08d1f64a84a&width=400&height=225)
Iraqis check out books at the Howeish book market in the holy city of Najaf. AFP
Iraqis check out books at the Howeish book market in the holy city of Najaf. AFP
In Iraq's city of bookshops, theology and poetry rub spines
From Moqtada Al Sadr's uncle to Gertrude Bell, Najaf's old city has welcomed many famous guests
Agence France Presse
10 October, 2018