Princess
Dec 2011 · Princess Series Book 1 · Random House
4.3star
208 reviews
Ebook
304
Pages
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About this ebook
In a land where Kings still rule, I am a Princess. You must know me only as Sultana, for I cannot reveal my true name for fear that harm will come to me and my family for what I am about to tell you.
Think of a Saudi Arabian princess and what do you see? A woman glittering with jewels, living a life of unbelievable luxury. She has gold, palaces, swimming-pools, servants, designer dresses galore. But in reality she lives in a gilded cage. She has no freedom, no vote, no control over her own life, no value but as a bearer of sons. Hidden behind the veil, she is a prisoner, her jailers her father, her husband, her sons.
'Sultana' is a member of the Saudi royal family, closely related to the King. For the sake of her daughters, she decided that it was time for a woman in her position to speak out about the reality of life for women in her country, whatever their rank. She tells of her own life, from her turbulent childhood to her arranged marriage - a happy one, until her husband decided to take a second wife - and of the lives of her sisters, her friends and her servants. In contrast to the affection and easy camaraderie amongst the women, she relates a history of appalling oppression against them, everyday occurrences that in any other culture would be seen as shocking human rights violations: forced marriages, servants bullied into sex slavery, summary executions.
Princess is a testimony to a woman of indomitable spirit and great courage. By speaking out, 'Sultana' risked bringing the wrath of the Saudi establishment upon her head and upon the heads of her children. For this reason, she told her story anonymously.
Think of a Saudi Arabian princess and what do you see? A woman glittering with jewels, living a life of unbelievable luxury. She has gold, palaces, swimming-pools, servants, designer dresses galore. But in reality she lives in a gilded cage. She has no freedom, no vote, no control over her own life, no value but as a bearer of sons. Hidden behind the veil, she is a prisoner, her jailers her father, her husband, her sons.
'Sultana' is a member of the Saudi royal family, closely related to the King. For the sake of her daughters, she decided that it was time for a woman in her position to speak out about the reality of life for women in her country, whatever their rank. She tells of her own life, from her turbulent childhood to her arranged marriage - a happy one, until her husband decided to take a second wife - and of the lives of her sisters, her friends and her servants. In contrast to the affection and easy camaraderie amongst the women, she relates a history of appalling oppression against them, everyday occurrences that in any other culture would be seen as shocking human rights violations: forced marriages, servants bullied into sex slavery, summary executions.
Princess is a testimony to a woman of indomitable spirit and great courage. By speaking out, 'Sultana' risked bringing the wrath of the Saudi establishment upon her head and upon the heads of her children. For this reason, she told her story anonymously.
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Ratings and reviews
4.3
208 reviews
Jasim Khan
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January 11, 2017
Rubbish. Our women are Queens. Islam gives the rights to women which others faiths couldn't. Islam protects women while others consider women as sex object, sad but true. Islam gives women such a high status that Paradise lies under Mothers'(women) feet. Islam has given all the rights to women, whether economic, social, political or even spiritual. It's only Islam which talk about women's right more than other faiths. Our women are protected and are honoured.
4 people found this review helpful
sharon itola
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November 11, 2016
Such an inspiring story. .though it is difficult for me to imagine such restrictions and atrocities. .reading this book made me realize how fortunate I am to have a supportive father n family. ..things which i take for granted in this world. If every mother in this world raises men who are respect women, the world will be a much better place.
18 people found this review helpful
Sandhya Menon
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August 9, 2016
While turning every page of princess,there was a selfish relief in me,,,oh god I am not born there..here we have so much of freedom to talk and do things the way we like...when I read that the deaths and births of females are not registered,it was ahurt that haunts u being a woman...thanks and hatsoff to sultana and Jean sasson to take so much of pain to bring this to light.hope things are changed.
12 people found this review helpful
About the author
Jean Sasson grew up in a small town in America's deep south before moving to the Middle East in 1978 to work at a prestigious royal hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In 1985, she met Princess Sultana, who inspired the widely acclaimed Princess Trilogy. Jean later worked as freelance writer in Lebanon and Kuwait, conducting interviews with Kuwaitis who survived the first Gulf war, as well as high ranking Kuwaiti officials before, during and after the War. Her affection for the Middle East has been the motivation for a number of her books and Jean has spent her career sharing the personal stories of many courageous women. Princess: Stepping Out Of The Shadows is the latest book in the bestselling Princess series.
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