Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13027 in Books
• Published on: 1994-09-08
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Synopsis
Zana Muhsen, born and bred in Birmingham, is of Yemeni origin. When her father told her she was to spend a holiday with relatives in North Yemen, she jumped at the chance. Aged 15 and 13 respectively, Zana and her sister discovered that they had been literally sold into marriage, and that on their arrival they were virtually prisoners. They had to adapt to a completely alien way of life, with no running water, dung-plastered walls, frequent beatings, and the ordeal of childbirth on bare floors with only old women in attendance. After eight years of misery and humiliation Zana succeeded in escaping, but her sister is still there, and it seems likely that she will now never leave the country where she has spent more than half her life. This is an updated edition of Zana's account of her experiences.

Customer Reviews

couldn't put it down
The book is very well written. I read the whole thing in one day, i felt like i was there living the nightmare with Nadia and Zana and my heart completly went out to both of them.
A true insight and eye opener to modern day slavery a book that will have you wanting to know more ...

Couldn't put this book down,,,,,,, gripping read
I read this book within two days, I just couldn't put it down and when I had to I did so rather grudgingly!

It is a true story, and I remember the publicity when it actually happened. Its a shocking story and I find it so hard to believe that women are still living in this way, it made me so glad to be British living in this century.

One of the reviewers commented on the poor writing but I actually thought it was very cleverly written. It was coloquial but I think that may have been the authors intention, it gave the impression that you were sitting with Zana, actually hearing her tell her story.

This book comes highly recommended!

This book had me sold.
Zana Muhsen and her sister Nadia were thrilled when they learned that their father had paid for them to go on the trip of a life time. Faraway from their native Birmingham, they'd have two blissfull weeks of Sea, sand, and spectacular views in their fathers yemeni homeland. Due to legal discrepancies concerning the then 14 year old Nadia, Zana, 15 went on ahead of her little sister. Expecting blissful views, bare-back dessert camel rides and tropical seas - what she got was the shock of her life. On arriving in the desolate far away land Zana discovered to her horror that her father had literally sold herself and her sister into marriage and that, unable to warn her sister of her impending doom, they were now helplessly trapped! They suffered rape, several beatings and the terrifying ordeal of Child Birth in the raw with no pain relief or hospital care.

It took eight long torturous years for Zana to escape her life of hell, but when she touched back down on to English soil the world was desperate to hear her story. An now here it is, in her own words. This is a remarkable true story of one families fight against red tape, racism and beaurocracy. It is a story that left nations divided, a family torn apart and two cultures to clash head long into each other.

Sadly, though Zana finally made it home, her story does not have a happy ending. Sadly, Nadia did not manage to escape, and Zana was forced to leave her baby behind. (Her story is continued in 'A Promise To Nadia')

This story is utterly unbelievable, how one person can be so callous and unappologetic as their father, selling his own flesh and blood into a live of slavery. But while this book is painful and tremendously tear-jerking to read it make you appreciate how lucky you are to live in a civilization where you have free-will. It really shows you the other side of life, the power of hope, love and belief and above all the strength of the human spirit.