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"More than any other woman, Nawal El Saadawi has come has come to embody the trials of Arab feminism."—San Francisco Chronicle
"The leading spokeswoman on the status of women in the Arab World."—Guardian
"Saadawi writes with directness and passion."—The New York Times
Bodour, a distinguished literary critic and university professor, carries with her a dark secret. As a young university student, she fell in love with a political activist and gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, Zeina, whom she abandoned on the streets of Cairo.
Zeina grows up to become one of Egypt's most beloved entertainers, despite being deprived of a name and a home. In contrast, Bodour remains trapped in a loveless marriage, pining for her daughter. In an attempt to find solace she turns to literature, writing a fictionalized account of her life. But when the novel goes missing, Bodour is forced on a journey of self discovery, reliving and reshaping her past and her future.
Will Bodour ever discover who stole the novel? Is there any hope of her being reunited with Zeina?
Nawal El Saadawi is an internationally renowned Egyptian writer, feminist, and psychiatrist. Her works have been translated into more than thirty languages.
"The latest from El Saadawi, seamlessly translated by Nowaira, will haunt readers with its beautiful prose and harsh depiction of women's lives in Cairo...The shifting time line will keep readers guessing as to what happens next, and what is real versus imagined." Publishers Weekly
"The famed Egyptian feminist spins a tale of a literary critic whose regret over the illegitimate child she gave away pushes her into psychosis. First published in Arabic in 2009, Zeina challenges the stigma of illigitimacy and presages the Tahir Square Revolution." MS Magazine
"A tale of regret written by an Egyptian who understands the loss and challenge that the modern Egyptian faces, Zeina is a top pick, very much recommended for world contemporary fiction collections." Mid West Book Review
"Read this novel to grasp the bravery of El Saadawi's activism in Egypt or to learn more about her country than we saw on our TV screens this spring..."
The Guardian