Abstract

The writings of Nawal El Saadawi are essential to anyone wishing to understand the contemporary Arab world. Her dissident voice has stayed as consistent in its critique of neo.imperialist international politics as it has in its denunciation of women's oppression, both in her native Egypt and in the wider world. Saadawi is a figure of international significance, and her work has a central place in Arabic history and culture of the last half century. Featuring work never before translated into English, The Essential Nawal El Saadawi gathers together a wide range of Saadawi's writing. From novellas and short stories to essays on politics, culture, religion and sex; from extensive interviews to her work as a dramatist; from poetry to autobiography, this book is essential for anyone wishing to gain a sense of the breadth of Saadawi's work.
Nawal El Saadawi is an internationally renowned writer, novelist and fighter for women’s rights both within Egypt and abroad. She holds honorary doctorates from, among others, the universities of York, Illinois at Chicago, St Andrews and Tromso as well as Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Her many prizes and awards include the Premi Internacional Catalunya in 2003, the Council of Europe North-South Prize in 2004, the Women of the Year Award (UK) in 2011, the Sean MacBride Peace Prize (Ireland) in 2012, and the French National Order of Merit in 2013. Her books have been translated into over forty languages worldwide. They are taught in universities across the world. .
'Powerfully political.' Poetry Nation Review 'The Arab world's leading feminist and iconoclast.' Fedwa Malti-Davis 'The leading spokeswoman on the status of women in the Arab world.' The Guardian 'The most recognisable name in Egyptian and Middle Eastern feminism… poignant, penetrating yet simple'. Library Journal 'Throughout her writing she sheds new light on the power of women in resistance - against poverty, racism, fundamentalism and inequality of all kinds.' The Middle East '. . . The author fought injustice all her life, succeeded in becoming a doctor... then a writer. In our culture women’s education was fought for by our grandmothers and great-grandmothers; reading this we are reminded not to take our good fortune for granted. This is a book we should all be reading...' Doris Lessing 'As I finished reading Dr. Nawal's autobiography I felt a sudden sense of loss. I didn't want to leave her. I went back and read the last sections again, and then again, until I remembered how many other books she has written. Then I felt delight that I will be able to return to her words and to her stories, and that so many others will share in them.' Bettina Aptheker 'Without doubt the most prominent and prolific female author in the Arabic language. Dr. Nawal al-Saadawi has the uncanny ability to place her finger on the hot buttons that inflame Arab readers.' Fedwa Malti-Douglas 'El Saadawi's poetic prose and searing details keep the pages alive with stories of triumph, dissent, death and disappointment.' San Francisco Chronicle