War reportage in Iraq: perceptions and experiences from portuguese literary journalists

This chapter is on Portuguese war reportage in Iraq, particularly through the book Uma casa em Mossul (2018) by journalist Paulo Moura. This book centers on the author’s time in the Iraq city of Mosul during the summer of 2017, and on the aftermath of the battle for the liberation of the city. Quite indicative of Moura’s writing style, his narrative stands out because of his captivating point of view and a contemplative attitude towards his work. While Moura cannot speak Arabic or Kurdish, a rather common trait of foreign correspondents assigned to Iraq, the author offers an unlikely perspective that differs from other war journalists, such as including his translator as a recurrent character in his narrative. This study also focuses on several other Portuguese journalists within the theme of war and conflict, paying particular attention to the last 30 years of Portuguese reporters working in the Middle East and North Africa. While Portugal’s tradition of war reportage abroad is just a century old, throughout its history there seems to be a characteristic style and approach that defines most Portuguese war reporters, thus making them stand out despite the many challenges they face.