Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein published a best-selling romance novel that spawned a twenty-episode TV series and a stage musical.

The book was called “Zabibah and the King.” It was a love tale set in medieval Iraq, set around the 7th or 8th century in Tikrit, Saddam’s home town. It was written in 2000, but the author remained anonymous. It was only after Hussein showed interest in his literary ventures and the heavy influence of Hussein’s life in the book that it was believed to be written by their leader. This rumor prompted sales of the cheap book, making it a bestseller.

Even the Central Intelligence Agency thought that the book was written by Hussein himself, perhaps with the help of some ghostwriters. They went through the book with a fine-tooth comb, using the text to analyze and gain insight into Saddam’s mind and thought process.