Daughters of the Nile
‘Original, compelling, witty and historically illuminating – hilarious and essential reading’ Helen Lederer, comedian, actress and founder of Comedy Women in Print
Paris, 1940. The course of Fatiha Bin-Khalid’s life is changed forever when she befriends the Muslim feminist Doria Shafik. But after returning to Egypt and dedicating years to the fight for women’s rights, she struggles to reconcile her political ideals with the realities of motherhood.
Cairo, 1966. After being publicly shamed when her relationship with a bisexual boyfriend is revealed, Fatiha’s daughter is faced with an impossible decision. Should Yasminah accept a life she didn’t choose, or will she leave her home and country in pursuit of independence?
Bristol, 2011. British-born Nadia is battling with an identity crisis and a severe case of herpes. Feeling unfulfilled (and after a particularly disastrous one-night stand), she moves in with her old-fashioned Aunt Yasminah and realises that she must discover her purpose in the modern world before it’s too late.
Following the lives of three women from the Bin-Khalid family, Daughters of the Nile is an original and darkly funny novel that examines the enduring strength of female bonds. These women are no strangers to adversity, but they must learn from the past and relearn shame and shamelessness to radically change their futures.
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Zahra Barri is an Irish-Egyptian writer and stand-up comedian. Growing up in Saudi Arabia and attending both Muslim and Catholic schools has given her a unique insight into living in multiple religious environments. She has featured on Channel 4’s Jokes Only A Muslim Can Tell, BBC Radio and BBC Asian Network. In 2020 she was named a runner-up in the Comedy Women in Print Unpublished Prize and she is currently doing a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Hertfordshire. Her work is supported by the Society of Authors. She lives in Rochester, Kent.