Memoirs From a Women's Prison by Nawal El Sa’adawi

Review by Omowaleayo Wale-Olaitan

The short:

The Egyptian feminist and celebrated writer, Nawal El Sa’adawi, describes the harrowing experience of her imprisonment in 1981. The memoir is a personal and deeply touching story on personal dignity, intellectual freedom, and political oppression.

The long:

Nawal El Sa’adawi was a feminist writer, activist and doctor. She passed away in March 2021 at the age of 89. Her radical activism against female oppression in a patriarchal system led her to clash with political powers; and in 1981, under the government of Anwar Sadat, she was jailed. Memoirs is a deeply moving account of her imprisonment. It details events right from the first day of her arrest right through the 8 weeks she spent in prison. In the women’s prison where she was jailed, she and other political prisoners banded together; despite their differences; to demand for better living conditions and maintain their sanity in a confined space. In the memoir, she also explores the power of the human mind and its ability to adapt to each circumstance; she also describes the commonness of humanity as the women had to work together to demand for better in spite of their differences. It is an honest reflection on human frailty and our interconnectedness.

To read or not to read:

Definitely read. This haunting prose writing will touch you and cause you to think deeply about life, living and humanity. The writer’s reflective tone and her moving portrayal of the women around her are the heart of the book. It is a must read for all lovers of freedom.