Princess - Jean Sasson

...(Linda) on the book called Princess by Jean Sasson. I was so intrigued by Linda’s review that I immediately ordered the book through Amazon.co.uk. It duly arrived and I started to read it that same evening. I was intrigued yet horrified by the reading of this book. I simply could not put it down. I had to keep reading and reading. First of all, Jean P Sasson is an American who has lived quite a few years in Saudi Arabia and therefore knew the people ...
...anything to happen to the princess who would be in great danger should her true identity become known. But she read the diaries and felt that she had to tell the story of the life of a Royal Saudi Arabian princess. The diaries told of the heartache, happiness and fear of life behind the veil. The author does state that the words of the book are her own but the story is that of the life of the princess. To try and protect the identity of this very ...

Wearsidelass 16.08.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Princess - Jean Sasson

...a true story of a Princess of the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia. Jean P. Sasson has written the book for Princess Sultana (a fictitious name). Woman in Saudi Arabia do not have a voice, Sultana would not have been able to write a book about her life without severe consequences to her and her family. The book is set in the 1970’s to the 1990’s. The story begins by introducing the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia. There is a family tree in the front ...
...the author nor of the Princess to demean the Islamic faith” I know from experience that many non Muslims believe the faith is to blame, so it is naturally very interesting to read this perspective. It all adds to the understanding of other cultures and religions. A True Story Sultana kept a secret diary about the life in the House of Al Sa’ud – her memories and an insight into the lives of other Saudi women. Her mother had sixteen children, eleven ...

teacherofhooch 18.07.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Princess - Jean Sasson

...this time that she met Princess Sultana. The Princess, the youngest in a family of eleven surviving children, including only one boy, begged Sasson to write her biography, based on her diaries even from childhood. Sasson was reluctant to write this biography at first; and it was not until after the Kuwait invasion in 1990 and Sasson's visit back to SA the following year, that she felt moved enough to bringing this story to the forefront of westerner's ...
...of the world's known oil reserves. It is also a vast country in size, as big as Western Europe, although a large part is desert and uninhabited and the country is home to only 14 million people. There are stiff punishments including amputation of hands for anyone guilty of theft, and even the right to murder one's only family member for crimes against an individual. An eye for an eye would hold true under Saudi law. Amazingly women are rarely ever ...

helencbradshaw 21.06.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Princess - Jean Sasson

...be the fifth time! Princess Sultana is a member of the large Saudi Arabian royal family. On the surface it appears she has everything that a teenage girl could wish for, expensive designer clothes, jewels and people to run around after her, getting her whatever she needs. She can have anything that money can buy, but the story of Sultana teaches us that money can't buy happiness. Sultana's story is told through the author, Jean Sasson. As a Saudi ...
...in to the land where Princess Sultana lives, before moving on to explain her life. This book takes you through every emotion possible. It is sad and shocking, but also leaves you giggling at times over some of the tricks that the Princess plays on her younger brother. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about different cultures and societies. It is a great introduction to Saudi Arabia, and will leave you wanting to read ...

lbr102 15.08.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Princess - Jean Sasson

Princess is a real-life-story unlike any that I have ever read before. From the moment I opened the cover I was hooked. From start to finish the book is a testimony to a woman of indomitable spirit and great courage and Jean Sasson truly captures the flavour and reality of life as 'Sultana' the Saudi Princess. 'Sultana's' birth nor death will ever be recorded, for she is a woman. A woman who lives in a society where only men have worth. 'Sultana' ...
...she has unlimited funds at her disposal yet she lacks the one thing she desires the most. Freedom. Wherever she is she is totally at the mercy of the men in her life... her father, her brother, her husband. "If no-one knows of my existence, does that mean I do not exist" For this reason 'Sultana', despite the high level of risk has chosen to tell her story and through the author Jean Sasson an unvarnished tale of a closed society is brought to light ...

MI9to5 28.08.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Princess - Jean Sasson

...formed a friendship with the princess whose story she is sharing. Names have been changed and the story although true is in Jean's words due to the serious punishment the Princess would face should it be known she leaked this information. The story is based from the 1970's to the 90's but is still very much a true reflection on what STILL goes on! This story moved me and although it was an emotional read I would recommend this to anyone with an ounce ...

Nads82 16.07.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Princess - Jean Sasson

I first heard of the Princess book, when we were talking about the very envied lives of the Saudi Arabian princesses. We often envy them, when we see them shopping in Harrods like their shopping in a Pound shop. Picking up several colours of the same design, often spending more than I earn in a year!!! However, this book has provided me with an insight into a completely different version of their lives, yes they are rich, but they envy US. As we ...
...The book is about a princess called Sultana, her true identity isn't revealed for obvious reasons, but all we know is that she is very high up in the family tree, as her father is a brother of the king. No mention if they are half brothers, as this is common within the royal family. It shows the account of the unfair treatment that she has suffered since she was born, being favoured over her brother. Who in this case is a very sick man!! In the beginning, ...

afinwala786 19.05.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Princess - Jean Sasson

...charts the life of a princess in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She writes with a co-author under an assumed name, as fear of death literally hangs over her head shuold it be discovered she has spoken to the western world of the atrocities that befall her and other women like her. She describes how women are a sub-class, their birth isnt recorded, familys often mourning the birth of a girl, their lives go unrecorded and unrecognised. Throughout the ...
...she loves, but is against the system of the ruling men and their interpretation of the Koran. This book is a powerful read, and is a sad shock to us in the western world, to read of the brutality and treatment of women in their own country. To even be suspected of talking to a non-related man gives a father or husband the right within the law, to condemn a woman to death in his manner of chosing. It tells of her arranged marriage, and how she went ...

lozzlaws 09.07.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Princess - Jean Sasson

This book is riveting from the off. It bursts into Saudi Arabia and tells us the story of Sultana. She is the Daughter of a Saudi prince and has been brought up to understand men rule, women stay underfoot. Though Sultana never really adhere's to the rules of men. I loved the emotion of the writing, though not very descriptive in parts about scene or place, the plot itself is riviting. Being a bit of a feminist and a hippy, the idea of woman giving ...
...the things Sultana tells you in this book are harrowing. And truly fightening to think these things still happen. My paper back copy is falling apart thats how many times I and the other I have passed it around to, have read it. Please buy, its captivating, moving and above all, it feels real. With no airs or grace. ...

LilyKitsell 30.08.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Princess - Jean Sasson