Memoirs of an Early Arab Feminist

'A truly exceptional woman. Her book stands witness to a momentous period; throughout, she was in the vanguard of reform' -- Marina Warner, from the foreword 'A fascinating record of experiences witnessed by a pioneer feminist in Beirut whose name is rightly synonymous with the feminist, social and literary renaissance of the Arab East' -- Kamal Salibi, prominent Lebanese historian and former Professor of History at the American University of Beirut

Anbara Salam Khalidi (1897 - 1986) was a feminist, activist, writer and translator of classic literary works into Arabic. Her memoirs were published as Memoirs of an Early Arab Feminist (Pluto, 2013). Marina Warner is an award-winning writer of fiction, criticism and history; her works include novels and short stories as well as studies of art, myths, symbols, and fairytales. She contributed an introduction to Memoirs of an Early Arab Feminist (Pluto, 2013) and the afterword to Shadow Lives (Pluto, 2013).

Translator's Acknowledgments List of Illustrations Prologue 1. Upbringing and family My first school; Other childhood memories; Means of transport and new inventions; Weddings and funerals 2. Political events before the First World War The trip to Cairo; My education (continued); Awakenings; The reform movement; The Paris Conference; The "Yellow" peril; First signs of a secret revolution; My studies at home; The Society for the Awakening of the Young Arab Woman 3. An engagement that was not completed Jamal Pasha and his iniquities; The war period and my meeting with Jamal Pasha; Workshops and refugee shelters in wartime; The Muslim Girls' Club and Ahmad Mukhtar Bayhum 4. The war's end Occupation and the Mandate; The Syrian Congress; My father's opposition to the Mandate and his exile to Duma; French vindictiveness and severe financial losses for the family; The Lake Huleh story 5. Society for Women's Renaissance My trip to England; Returning to Beirut; Unveiling; The progress of feminism; Feminist conferences; Some pioneers of feminism 6. Back to the literary scene of the 1920s and beyond Some women literary figures 7. The story of my marriage Palestine my homeland; British policy in Palestine; Palestinian women; Zionist propaganda; Our literary and social life; Deir Amr; The Jericho Project; Jerusalem and the Arab College; Back to family life; My children 8. Exile Loss of homeland, loss of partner Index