Harem Years: The Memoirs of an Egyptian Feminist, 1879-1924

by Huda Shaarawi (Author), Margot Badran (Editor)

11 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-0935312706

ISBN-10: 0935312706

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In this firsthand account of the private world of a harem in colonial Cairo, Shaarawi recalls her childhood and early adult life in the seclusion of an upper-class Egyptian household, including her marriage at age thirteen. Her subsequent separation from her husband gave her time for an extended formal education, as well as an unexpected taste of independence. Shaarawi's feminist activism grew, along with her involvement in Egypt's nationalist struggle, culminating in 1923 when she publicly removed her veil in a Cairo railroad station, a daring act of defiance.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Shaarawi, an early leader of Egypt's feminist movement, was the daughter of an upper-class Egyptian and a Turkish Circassian woman. Raised in a haremthat area of homes where the women and children in wealthier families were secludedShaarawi observed bitterly that her younger brother was treated better and taught more than she. At age 13 she was married, against her wishes, to an older cousin who already had a family by a "slave-concubine," with whom he continued to live at intervals during his marriage. In addition to noting such injustices, Shaarawi also offers a touching account of growing up in the Middle East at the turn of the century and of the peopleparticularly European women living in Egypt and Egyptian women educated in Europewho helped her to develop a vision of a more just society. Badran's epilogue, quoting extensively from Shaarawi's narrative, covers the stirring struggle for independence from Britain and the beginnings of a women's movement in Egypt following World War I.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Huda Shaarawi (1879-1947) was among the last generation of Egyptian women to live in the segregated world of the harem. Her feminist activism grew out of her involvement in Egypt's nationalist struggle, and led to her founding of the Egyptian Feminist Union in 1923.

Product details

Publisher : The Feminist Press at CUNY (January 1, 1987)
Language : English
Paperback : 176 pages
ISBN-10 : 0935312706
ISBN-13 : 978-0935312706
Item Weight : 9.6 ounces
Dimensions : 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #720,408 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #366 in Egyptian History (Books)
- #438 in Middle Eastern History (Books)
- #685 in Historical Middle East Biographies

Customer Reviews:
11 ratings

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Kamal

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2017

Verified Purchase

The book is of very good quality and has arrived on time. Thank you very much!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Dacia

Good

Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2013

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Haven't read the book as yet, but the condition of the book is great. I am Glad I bought it.

One person found this helpful

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S. T. Sullivan

Must Read for those interested in Egypt or Mid-East Feminism

Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2007

Huda Shaarawi lead a pretty amazing life. She started out life in the harem of her father, and ended it being a feminist and a nationalist hero. This isn't a particularly well written book, but when you lead a life that was intertwined with so many world events, your memoir doesn't have to be well written to be engaging.

I could recount the narrative here for you, how she got an education in the harem from other women, how the harem wasn't only a place of repression but was also a place of empowerment, how she was interested in European culture from an early age but really you should just read it for yourself.

12 people found this helpful

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Ameena A.

Page turner

Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2019

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I loved this book and will read it again in a couple years.

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Top reviews from other countries

Selene

It is one of many books we need to read to get a better and more complete picture of life in Egypt for ...

Reviewed in Canada on April 20, 2016

Verified Purchase

The book iss informative and it is a memoir that can add to knowing life in Egypt prior to and during colonial times. It is one of many books we need to read to get a better and more complete picture of life in Egypt for women.

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