
The Holy Woman
Qaisra Shahraz(Author)
Arcadia Books (Publisher)
Published on 7. October 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
570 pages
978-1-908129-35-2 (ISBN)
Description
"Gripping, hugely involving, and very satisfying" KATE MOSSE
Set in Pakistan, London and Egypt, this epic drama centres around the life of Zarri, the glamorous daughter of a wealthy landowner.
Zarrie Bano is the charismatic 28-year-old daughter of a wealthy Muslim landowner. She falls in love with Sikander, a business tycoon to whom her father takes an immediate dislike. When Zarri's brother is killed in a freak accident, her father decides to make her his heiress, resurrecting an ancient tradition and forcing her into marriage to the Holy Koran, to become her clan's 'holy woman' - a nun.
A powerful and compelling family drama, The Holy Woman is a romantic story of love and betrayal within a wealthy Muslim community.
Set in Pakistan, London and Egypt, this epic drama centres around the life of Zarri, the glamorous daughter of a wealthy landowner.
Zarrie Bano is the charismatic 28-year-old daughter of a wealthy Muslim landowner. She falls in love with Sikander, a business tycoon to whom her father takes an immediate dislike. When Zarri's brother is killed in a freak accident, her father decides to make her his heiress, resurrecting an ancient tradition and forcing her into marriage to the Holy Koran, to become her clan's 'holy woman' - a nun.
A powerful and compelling family drama, The Holy Woman is a romantic story of love and betrayal within a wealthy Muslim community.
Reviews / Votes
A lean, lyrical meditation on tradition and independence, sensuality and sacrifice, set against the moral background of modern day Pakistan, Shahraz's debut beguiles throughout * The Times * A stunning debut - an intricate study of love, family, politics and sacrifice * Eastern Eye * An international bestseller: an extraordinary story of love and betrayal in rural Pakistan * Manchester Evening News * An absorbing adventure, from a vivid imagination * She *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Quercus Publishing
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 38 mm
Weight
457 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-908129-35-2 (9781908129352)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Person
Qaisra Shahraz FRSA is a prize-winning and critically acclaimed novelist, scriptwriter and peace and gender activist. She is the founder, curator and Executive Director of MACFEST, Muslim Arts and Culture Festival. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a literary judge, a former Director of Gatehouse Books and Asia Pacific Writers & Translators partnership, advisor to International Journal IJRHS. Her novels - The Holy Woman, Typhoon, Revolt - and her collections of short stories - A Pair of Jeans and other stories and The Concubine & The Slave Catcher - stories from around the world - have been translated into several languages.