In a family of ten daughters and one son, fear ruled our home: fear that cruel death would claim the one living male child, fear that no other sons would follow, fear that God had cursed our home with daughters.

Sultana writes how she craved her father’s attention in any way possible. In the land where the male child is so prized and the female scorned upon, the expectation from Fadeela was for a son that would ensure the succession of her husband’s legacy. Sultana’s mother, Fadeela, was his first wife, and therefore his head wife. Each of the wives have children with him, and he rotates between his wives, giving equal time to each. Sultana’s father has four wives, and they all have their separate palaces. ‘Princess’ is the tale of the growing up years of Princess Sultana, the youngest of ten sisters, with this pseudonym so to protect her real identity. For this reason, she told her story anonymously.Late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia who was assasinated in 1975 by his nephew

By speaking out, 'Sultana' risked bringing the wrath of the Saudi establishment upon her head and upon the heads of her children.

Princess is a testimony to a woman of indomitable spirit and great courage. In contrast to the affection and easy camaraderie amongst the women, she relates a history of appalling oppression against them, everyday occurrences that in any other culture would be seen as shocking human rights violations: forced marriages, servants bullied into sex slavery, summary executions. She tells of her own life, from her turbulent childhood to her arranged marriage - a happy one, until her husband decided to take a second wife - and of the lives of her sisters, her friends and her servants. For the sake of her daughters, she decided that it was time for a woman in her position to speak out about the reality of life for women in her country, whatever their rank. 'Sultana' is a member of the Saudi royal family, closely related to the King. Hidden behind the veil, she is a prisoner, her jailers her father, her husband, her sons. She has no freedom, no vote, no control over her own life, no value but as a bearer of sons. But in reality she lives in a gilded cage. She has gold, palaces, swimming-pools, servants, designer dresses galore.

Think of a Saudi Arabian princess and what do you see? A woman glittering with jewels, living a life of unbelievable luxury. You must know me only as Sultana, for I cannot reveal my true name for fear that harm will come to me and my family for what I am about to tell you. In a land where Kings still rule, I am a Princess. Reissue of the worldwide bestseller by popular demand - a shocking true story of life behind the veil.

Princess by jean sasson