Haddad, J: I Killed Scheherazade

Joumana Haddad is angry about the way Arab women are portrayed in the West. In I Killed Scheherazade she challenges prevalent notions of identity and womanhood in the Middle East and speaks of her own intellectual development and the liberating impact of literature on her life. Fiery and candid, this is a provocative exploration of what it means to be an Arab woman today. 'A vivid assertion of individuality, free speech, free choice and dignity against religious bigotry, prejudice and the herd instinct both within and outside the Arab world, and within and outside Islam' Guardian'A spirited call to Arab women to stand up' New York Times'It takes genius to attain such radical freedom.' Etel Adnan'In this courageous book Joumana Haddad breaks down the taboo of the silent absent Arab woman.' Elfriede Jelinek'A very courageous and illuminating book about women in the Arab world. It opens our eyes, destroys our prejudices and is very entertaining.'Mario Vargas Llosa'Joumana Haddad cannot be intimidated. This book is a lesson of courage for all those who fight to go beyond their own limits and chains.'Roberto Saviano'Literature is often a storm that breaks the rules of decorum and forces us to come face to face with our weaknesses and illusions. Joumana Haddad is a poet who inhabits the storm.' Tahar Ben Jelloun

Joumana Haddad is angry about the way Arab women are portrayed in the West. In I Killed Scheherazade she challenges prevalent notions of identity and womanhood in the Middle East and speaks of her own intellectual development and the liberating impact of literature on her life. Fiery and candid, this is a provocative exploration of what it means to be an Arab woman today. 'A vivid assertion of individuality, free speech, free choice and dignity against religious bigotry, prejudice and the herd instinct both within and outside the Arab world, and within and outside Islam' Guardian'A spirited call to Arab women to stand up' New York Times'It takes genius to attain such radical freedom.' Etel Adnan'In this courageous book Joumana Haddad breaks down the taboo of the silent absent Arab woman.' Elfriede Jelinek'A very courageous and illuminating book about women in the Arab world. It opens our eyes, destroys our prejudices and is very entertaining.'Mario Vargas Llosa'Joumana Haddad cannot be intimidated. This book is a lesson of courage for all those who fight to go beyond their own limits and chains.'Roberto Saviano'Literature is often a storm that breaks the rules of decorum and forces us to come face to face with our weaknesses and illusions. Joumana Haddad is a poet who inhabits the storm.' Tahar Ben Jelloun

Contents: Note to the Reader 11 Foreword by Etel Adnan 13 To Start With - On camels, belly dancing, schizophrenia and other pseudo-disasters 17 1. An Arab Woman Reading the Marquis de Sade 33 11. An Arab Woman Not Belonging Anywhere 49 111. An Arab Woman Writing Erotic Poetry 63 1v. An Arab Woman Creating a Magazine about the Body 79 v. An Arab Woman Redefining Her Womanhood 95 v1. An Arab Woman Unafraid of Provoking Allah 113 v11. An Arab Woman Living and Saying No 127 To Start Again - Am I really an 'Arab woman'? 137 Post-Partum: I Killed Scheherazade 141 The Poet's Chapter: Attempt at an Autobiography 149 Acknowledgments 159