Casting Off the Veil - by Sania Sharawi Lanfranchi (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In 1923, when the pioneer of feminist activism, Huda Shaarawi, removed her veil in Cairo's train station, she created what became a landmark (and much-copied) gesture for feminists throughout Egypt and the Middle East and cemented her status as one of the most important feminists in twentieth-century Egypt. In Casting off the Veil, her granddaughter Sania Sharawi Lanfranchi uses never-before seen letters and photographs to explore the life and thought of Egypt's first feminist, as she campaigned against British occupation, as well as striving to improve conditions for women throughout the country. From her birth into a wealthy and powerful family, her early years spent in a harem, to her iconic status as one of the most influential feminists in Middle Eastern history, this is a fascinating portrait of a determined and ground-breaking woman, a rich and important story which will captivate everyone with an interest in Egyptian, feminist or colonial history.

Review Quotes

""Huda Shaarawi an icon. A wealthy woman who dedicated her life and her financial resources to the betterment of Egypt. She set up a number of charitable works that also educated and trained women so they could earn a living. She was the first feminist in the country and Egyptian women all owe her a debt for her indefatigable work on their behalf, and thus this book, which deals with the history of this remarkable woman, will appeal to a very wide audience in Egypt of both sexes. Interweaving Shaarawi's life with the history of Egypt, and bringing in new material from private papers, this book is highly recommended for all interested in the history of women in Egypt and the wider Middle East."" -Afaf Lutfi al-Sayyid Marsot, Professor Emerita, UCLA

""Huda Shaarawi was one of the truly heroic figures of the modern Middle East. And this book will not only provide a wealth of new information, but may also change the unconscious views of many readers, especially Western ones, about the nature of the Middle-Eastern family and Middle-Eastern society in general."" -John Rodenbeck, Professor Emeritus, The American University in Cairo

""A very unique account."" - Al-Ahram Online

""By tracing the life of Huda Shaarawi with depth, honesty and completeness, Sharawi Lanfranchi not only takes us back to a journey in the past, but to a journey in the mind, heart and soul of one of the greatest women of all times."" - Midan Masr

About the Author

Sania Sharawi Lanfranchi is a freelance interpreter, and has worked for international, regional and national organisations, including the Library of Alexandria, UNESCO and WHO.