Product Description

The powerful story of a woman locked behind the oppressive walls of a modern-day harem.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #153394 in Books
• Published on: 1996-10-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 479 pages

From the Back Cover
In this passionate, spellbinding story of one young woman's fight for freedom, Soheir Khashoggi takes us into the hidden world of the Middle Eastern aristocracy and exposes the reality of life behind the veil for women in today's harems.

Despite her fairytale childhood of extravagant wealth and royal privilege, Amira accepts that she will be sold into marriage and that she will never be able to step outside her house without being swathed in black veils. But she is not prepared for the savagery of the husband she first meets on her wedding night, or the increasingly abusive control he exerts over her. In a daring attempt to save her life and her sanity, she escapes with her baby to start a new life in the United States where she discovers true love, as well as a fulfilling career. Yet Amira must always live with the terrifying threat of her past - and her ruthless husband - catching up with her.

Mrage is a powerful story of love and revenge. It is also a moving tribute to the strength and endurance of women who defy the yoke of male dominance.

About the Author
Soheir Khashoggi
Soheir Khashoggi was born in Alexandria, Egypt. A member of one of Saudi's most prominent families, she has used her influence to highlight the plight of women across the Arab world. She has participated in conferences worldwide and was recently invited to speak at the international Women's World Forum Against Violence, an organization founded by Queen Sofia of Spain. Her acclaimed first novel, Mirage, was published in 1996 and was followed by Nadia's Song in 1999. She has four daughters and although based in Connecticut, is a frequent visitor to London and Cannes.

Customer Reviews

Great Book!
As soon as I started reading this book I just could not put it down. It is one of the great books I have read. The whole story really describe how life is in the Middle East.
The life of Amira Badir is one amazibg story. I would definitely recommend this book.

Gripping read from beginning to end � not to be missed
This is the first of Ms Soheir Khashoggi's books, which I have read, and it was superb. Set in the fictitious Arabian country of Al-Remal, it tells the story of a girl, born into wealth and privilege in a prominent Arabian family. She lives in a gilded cage, in a land where growing oil wealth and opulence co-exist with archaic traditions and barbaric misogynistic practices.

The book opens with an introduction to Jenna Sorrel, a renowned Harvard-educated psychologist living in Boston, Massachusetts. She is forcibly taken away by men masquerading as immigration officers onto an aircraft: presumably back to Al-Remal, where her sadistic husband Prince Ali has been searching for her whereabouts for several years.

It is then revealed that in a former life, Jenna was known as Amira Badir, a girl who was sold into marriage to a member of the ruling Al-Rashad family. Despite living a glamorous jet-set lifestyle and being surrounded by lavish wealth, Amira endures increasing brutality from her husband, and is stifled by the oppressive environment imposed upon many Arab women, both rich and poor. Eventually, she flees with her baby to the United States to begin a new life. However, the threat of being found by her influential husband, reaching out for her with "arms a billion dollars long", is never far behind.

I have deducted a star merely due to the inconsistent quality of writing: most of the time, it sparkles like a diamond, but occasionally there are colloquial lapses in the narration, which tarnish its lustre. Personally, I feel that there should be increased awareness of this book, although it may be banned in certain countries. Whilst it has been in circulation for several years, I only stumbled upon it recently on Amazon UK's website. It is an excellent first novel by Ms Khashoggi.

Excellent
What a great book! I could not put it down, quite a page turner...one of the best books I have read.
I have learned a lot through the fascinating journey of that culture, into the heart of arab women. An excellent book written with intelligence and compassion. I have recommanded it to many friends.