A Certain Woman

A Modern Arabic Novel from Egypt
By Hala El Badry

In Hala El Badry's prize-winning and controversial novel, 'A Certain Woman', Nahid is a woman searching for liberation, not from a repressive society or a male-dominated world, but from self-imposed taboos that inhibit a woman's ability to find fulfilment.  In a narrative much excoriated by conservative critics, Nahid's adulterous affair becomes an occasion to explore the subtleties and contradictions that surround sexuality, desire and love.

'A Certain Woman' contributes to the growing body of imaginativeliterature written by Arab women and translated into English. Thetranslation of this novel is alliterative, poetic and strikinglyvivid.'

Al Jadid

Born in Cairo, Hala El Badry graduated from Cairo University and is now deputy editor-in-chief of Egypt's radio and television magazine. 'A Certain Woman', her fourth novel, was awarded the prize for best novel of 2001 at the Cairo International Book Fair.

Translated by Farouk Abdel Wahab.