Women of Sand and Myrrh - by Hanan Al-Shaykh (Paperback)

About the Book

Little is known of what life is like for contemporary Arab women living in the Middle East. One of the few literary voices speaking out from that still closed society is Hanan al-Shaykh, whose novel The Story of Zahra was banned in most Arab countries. Now available for the first time in the U.S. is her newest novel, a story of four women treated to every luxury but freedom.

Book Synopsis

A modern classic of Arab women's literature--and a poignant reminder of the enduring plight of oppressed women around the globe

"Brilliantly drawn . . . Al-Shaykh is one of the Arab world's most distinguished writers."--The Guardian

In an unnamed desert state, four very different women--Suha, Tamr, Suzanne, and Nur--struggle to cope in a society where they are treated to every luxury but freedom. Through their experiences, acclaimed Lebanese novelist Hanan al-Shaykh lays bare the unusual and highly charged relations that exist in a state that denies women their humanity.

First published in 1988, Women of Sand and Myrrh is not only an elegant, moving novel of lasting impact, but also a powerfully revealing insight into a long-cloistered world.

Review Quotes

"A gifted and courageous writer."--Middle Eastern International

About the Author

Hanan al-Shaykh, an award-winning journalist, novelist, and playwright, is the author of the short story collection I Sweep the Sun off Rooftops; the novels One Thousand and One Nights, The Story of Zahra, Women of Sand and Myrrh, Beirut Blues, and Only in London; and a memoir about her mother, The Locust and the Bird. She was raised in Beirut, educated in Cairo, and lives in London.