al-Rajea al-Baeed (The Long Way Back), published in 1980,[1] depicts the suffering and trials afflicting four generations of a Baghdad family under several oppressive Iraqi government regimes in the years after the fall of the Iraqi monarchy, including that of Saddam Hussein.[1] Al-Tikerly's novel was one of few to openly criticize the Iraqi government without repercussions.[1] Al-Tikerly had no political affiliation, and was not connected to the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party or the regime of Saddam Hussein.[1]