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Mayada, Daughter of Iraq: One Woman's Survival Under Saddam Hussein

jean sasson

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“Sasson's candid, straightforward account...gives readers a glimpse of the cruelty and hardship endured by generations of Iraqis.”— Publishers Weekly

A member of one of the most distinguished and honored families in Iraq, Mayada grew up surrounded by wealth and royalty. But when Saddam Hussein’s regime took power, she was thrown into cell 52 in the infamous Baladiyat prison with seventeen other nameless, faceless women from all walks of life. To ease their suffering, these “shadow women” passed each day by sharing their life stories. Now, through Jean Sasson, Mayada is finally able to tell her story—and theirs—to the world.

360 pages, Paperback

First published April 1,1995
Places
iraq, middle east, baghdad, 

This edition

Format
360 pages, Paperback
Published
September 7, 2004 by Penguin Publishing Group
ISBN
9780451212924
ASIN
0451212924
Language
English

More editions

About the author

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jean sasson

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Jean Sasson was born in a small town in Alabama. An avid reader from an early age, she had read all the books in her school library by the time she was 15 years old. She also began her book collection at age 15. When given the chance to travel, Sasson accepted a position at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh, and lived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 12 years. She traveled extensively, visiting 66 countries over the course of 30 years.

Jean started her writing career in 1991 when she wrote the book, THE RAPE OF KUWAIT. The book was an instant best-seller, reaching #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. When the Kuwaiti Embassy in Washington heard that soldiers sent to free Kuwait did not know why they were there, the Embassy sent 200,000 copies to the region. Later Sasson wrote PRINCESS: A TRUE STORY OF LIFE BEHIND THE VEIL IN SAUDI ARABIA, which is the story of a princess in the royal house of al-Sa'ud. The book was an international bestseller published in 68 different editions (also staying on the NYTIMES bestseller list for 13 weeks). Later Sasson wrote two sequels (DAUGHTERS AND CIRCLE). Please visit this link to read an interview with the author about her book "Princess": http://reith-jerevinan.blogspot.com/2....

Other groundbreaking books followed: MAYADA, DAUGHTER OF IRAQ; ESTER'S CHILD; LOVE IN A TORN LAND; GROWING UP BIN LADEN (please visit this page to read an in-depth interview with Jean Sasson about "Growing Up bin Laden" http://www.thedailybeast.com/contribu... and FOR THE LOVE OF A SON.

In March 2012, an e-book short was released: AMERICAN CHICK IN SAUDI ARABIA, which consists of the first three chapters of Sasson's autobiography. On the second day of release, the book reached #1 on Barnes & Noble biography bestseller list. Jean's latest release is YASMEENA'S CHOICE, a heartbreaker of a story about two women (one Kuwaiti and the other Lebanese) kidnapped to be raped & tortured by the Iraqi special forces in occupied Kuwait. (Please visit this link to see an itnerview with Jean Sasson about her newest book "Yasmeena's Choice: http://gulfnews.com/arts-entertainmen...).

Jean's 12th book, PRINCESS, MORE TEARS to CRY has just been released and is available in the English language in most countries. Foreign editions will be available throughout the next year. Jean Sasson's official website is: www.jeansasson.com.

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Community Reviews

Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
42(42%)
4 stars
27(27%)
3 stars
31(31%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
1urk
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 25,2025
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It was a really good book, but only 3 stars because it was so hard for me to read. Knowing it was a true story made the horrible torture accounts and opression a bit too real. I guess that's the point, but I won't be reading this one again any time soon. Good book though.
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louise4
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 25,2025
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Jean Sasson has written half a dozen books on Saudi Arabia. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait,she also wrote a short book,The Rape of Kuwait.

The problem with her books always is that they either look like fiction or a mixture of fact and fiction,at best.

In case of this book,it also looks like propaganda and an exercise in Saddam bashing.It was published not long after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

While Saddam was no doubt bad,Jean Sasson's books are completely silent about the US invasions of the country and their impact on Iraq's long suffering people.

Apart from debatable factual accuracy,this book was pretty boring too.
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Rocket_Dive
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 25,2025
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obviously, this is one woman's side of the story, but it opened my eyes as to the things that paople face in other parts of the world and under dictator rule. and she was one of the lucky ones.
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jiaojasjjasjsa
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 25,2025
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Mayada Al-Askari was born into a powerful Iraqi family. the story follows mayada's life as it was lived since the Ba'ath party and Saddam Hussein came into power. this is a sad story of the whole population who lived with the constant fear in their hearts, under the cruel regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq.
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old-creepy
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 25,2025
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The story of Mayada is a bit different than the 'Princess' trilogy and is a little more dark, but still very good. Jean Sasson still writes eloquently and with such spell binding truth, however, the undertones of Saddam Hussein and the evil with which he ruled create a darker image.
Mayada herself is a wonderful character. She is a determined, brave woman and an inspiration to read about.
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xiecake
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 25,2025
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A biography following the life of a woman in Iraq. She is an interesting case as her family was well known in Iraq and they had certain special privledges. She knew Sadaam Hussein. She is imprisoned on false charges and it was fascinating (sad) to hear the stories of the other women in the prison.
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dYeGallardo363
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 25,2025
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Why did so many Iraqis risk their lives by putting their finger on the ink pad, to vote for a new government? Read this memoir of this lady's life, prior to the war and you will soon understand the hideous events that were taking place under Saddam Hussein. Well written and very interesting.
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BuchBehandlung
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 25,2025
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Would have been a 5 star if the book was marketed as fiction based on real events.

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