An American journalist provides insights into women's lives, and the traditions imposed on them, from arranged marriages to a husband's right to take his wife's life, in many Islamic countries. The women depicted - both single and married - are from a variety of backgrounds and environments.

An American journalist provides insights into women's lives, and the traditions imposed on them, from arranged marriages to a husband's right to take his wife's life, in many Islamic countries. The women depicted - both single and married - are from a variety of backgrounds and environments, from power-broking, the jet-set and the professions, to rural villages, red-light districts and child-labour camps. Some of the women are content some are resigned. Others, especially the educated, are incensed by social norms that allow them to be confined, even killed, for the sake of a man's honour. Jan Goodwin is the author of Caught in the Crossfire , an account of her experiences travelling with Afghanistan's mujahideen fighters during the war against the Soviet Union.

'A remarkable book' Katharine Whitehorn, OBSERVER 'Goodwin's book deals with an important issue without debunking the religion itself, a fine achievement' ASIAN TIMES 'Always engrossing, astonishing in its diversity' IRISH TIMES