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.
Hanan al-Shaykh, an award-winning journalist, novelist, and playwright, is the author of the short-story collections I Sweep the Sun Off Rooftops and One Thousand and One Nights; the novels 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.
View titles by Hanan al-Shaykh
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.
Hanan al-Shaykh, an award-winning journalist, novelist, and playwright, is the author of the short-story collections I Sweep the Sun Off Rooftops and One Thousand and One Nights; the novels 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.
View titles by Hanan al-Shaykh
