Product Description

Readers of Princess Sultana's extraordinary biography Princess were gripped by her powerful indictment of women's lives behind the veil within the royal family of Saudi Arabia. They were every bit as fascinated by the sequel, Daughters of Arabia.Here, the princess turns the spotlight on her two daughters, Maha and Amani, both teenagers. Surrounded by untold opulence and luxury from the day they were born, but stifled by the unbearably restrictive lifestyle imposed on them, they reacted in equally desperate ways. Their dramatic and shocking stories, together with many more which concern other members of Princess Sultana's huge family, are set against a rich backdrop of Saudi Arabian culture and social mores which she depicts with equal colour and authenticity. We learn, for example, of the fascinating ritual of the world-famous annual pilgrimage to Makkah as we accompany the princess and her family to this holiest of cities. Throughout, however, she never tires of her quest to expose the injustices which her society levels against women. In her courageous campaign to improve the lot of her own daughters of Arabia, Princess Sultana once more strikes a chord amongst all women who are lucky enough to have the freedom to speak out for themselves.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #42153 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 259 pages

From the Author
Thanking my readers
Although I have written more detailed comments to readers under the "Princess" title, I did want to take a moment to say I'm so pleased that the readers of "Princess," were compelled to read this second title about "Sultana."

Honestly, in some ways, I favor "Daughters of Arabia," over the first title, since I believe this second book gives readers a more complete look at life behind the veil in Saudi Arabia. The first years of Sultana's life were so turbulent with tragedies that it must have been difficult for readers to find the good that does exist in Saudi Arabia. (Although there were many wonderful stories about Sultana and her sisters.) Certainly, every thinking person acknowledges that good & bad run through every country...

However, I had so much fun writing about "Sultana's" tricks on her wicked brother, "Ali." While writing about her experience of wearing his "magic" undergarment, it took me forever to tell the story because I was laughing so hard. And, the story of "Sultana" macing her overwrought cousin is hilarious!

Still, we can't get away from the main theme of these books, which is the terrible plight lived daily by so many women in the world. And, I would like to stress that the Princess is a believing Muslim, and the books about her life, and the lives of other women, have no complaint with the Muslim faith. However, there is valid reason to complain about men who misinterpret the words of Islam's holy Prophet, simply in order to retain complete control over all females.

How can it be that men are still holding women in sexual bondage in the year 1999? How tragic & sad...

Once again, the Princess and I are grateful to have found such a wonderful audience. By showing your care & concern about women in a country far from your own reality, you are a force to be reckoned with...

With kindest regards,

Jean Sasson

From the Back Cover
Millions of readers worldwide were shocked at Princess Sultana's extraordinarily open and honest story, Princess, the first-hand exposé of women's lives behind the veil inside the royal family of Saudi Arabia. In Daughters of Arabia, the Princess turns the spotlight on her teenage daughters, Maha and Amani.

Surrounded by unbelievable opulence, Sultana's daughters have grown up taking their luxuries for granted. Yet, stifled by the horrendous restrictions imposed on all females, even royals, they have reacted in very different, but equally desperate ways.

This is a compelling story, set against the background of a turbulent society pitting authoritarian royal rule against fundamentalist religious demands, external political pressures and the tug of economic hardship in a land overflowing with oil revenues. This is the land that produced Osama Bin Laden. And yet it is a land of beauty, history and religion, home of Islam's holiest sites. It is in this environment of paradox and contrast that Sultana tries to rear her daughters as she seeks to expose injustice. In her courageous quest, Sultana once more strikes a chord amongst all women lucky enough to live their lives in freedom.

About the Author
Jean P Sasson is the author of the worldwide bestsellers Princess, Daughters of Arabia, Desert Royal and now Mayada: Daughter of Iraq. She lived in Saudi Arabia for over ten years from 1978 and became, during that time, the intimate friend and confidante of 'Sultana', who asked her to tell her story. She lives in the USA.

Customer Reviews

Good
Still a good continuation and interesting to learn about the princess's daughters. This book was very short and the stories were an extenion of what went on in the first book. The story was generally based on the prnicess's daughters and thier characters and personalities. How they develop and become different people. One is quite similar to her mother and the other takes after her aunty. It nice to see how the daughters develop into adults after reading about thier mother developing from a child into an adult.

The mother herself changes and swings from one mood to the next and the effect is shown on her as the books pogress and she realises what her weaknesses and tries to deal with them as best she can.

The daughters themselves have an easier life then their mother and one daughter Maha takes this for granted. It was nice to see the love Amani has for animals and the effect shown on her and how she learns to deals with things when she finds her uncles birds are in danger and kept in poor conditions. Also the feelings Maha develops when she witnesses her uncles Herem and the women he is holding there brings an intense and agressive side to Maha who tries her best to help these women out of the place. She is hurt to realise that things like that can happen in Saudia Arabia and in the Royal family. She with her mother try their best to get them out, but are not sucessful and give up.

However, if you take this as a update then you dont be diappointed. If read this thinking you a reading another side to the story or a different theme altogethrethen you may be diappointed.

Facinating and horrific at the same time
It seems hard to believe that such things as are described in this book actually go on. I haven't read either "Princess" or "Desert Royal" but I shall. I can't decide what I think of the two main men in her life - her husband and father. Certainly with most of the other men mentioned the reader does not have this problem. I liked the way the book was written. I think its good that it was written in a lively way. I would certainly recommend this book, and I feel very glad to live in England.

Daughters of Arbia
I read Princess and was amazed at the way the Royal family of Saudi Arabia treats its women. Daughters of Arabia is continuation of Princess and enlightens readers about the 2nd generation of the Royal family who have benefited from the oil wealth of there ancestors
It is amazing how the constraints of the Muslim word effect the young and venerable Muslim girls. It is an amazing account of two sisters who are so unlike but from the same mother.