• Princess

  • A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia
  • By: Jean Sasson
  • Narrated by: Catherine Byers
  • Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (906 ratings)

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Princess  By  cover art

Princess

By: Jean Sasson
Narrated by: Catherine Byers
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Publisher's summary

Princess describes the life of Princess Sultana Al Sa'ud, a princess in the royal house of Saudi Arabia. Hidden behind her black veil, she is a prisoner, jailed by her father, her husband, and her country.

Sultana tells of appalling oppressions, everyday occurrences that in any other culture would be seen as shocking human rights violations: 13-year-old girls forced to marry men five times their age; young women killed by drowning, stoning, or isolation in the "women's room". Princess is a testimony to a woman of indomitable spirit and courage, and you will never forget her or her Muslim sisters.

A New York Times best-seller, Princess was named one of the 500 Great Books by Women Since 1300. It was also an Alternate Selection of the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club and a Reader's Digest Selection.

©2004 The Sasson Corporation (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Princess

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story but...

Would you consider the audio edition of Princess to be better than the print version?

Probably not. The narrator was monotone and didn't bring much life to the audio portion of the book.

What did you like best about this story?

It was real and authentic.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Catherine Byers?

Not on purpose!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, not at all. The stories were good but 30 mins at a time was enough.

Any additional comments?

Soltana, the princess in this story was one of thousands of princesses in Saudi. In the end, she didn't accomplish anything or do anything historic or even memorable such that reading about her specifically is exciting. She just happens to be one of 21,000 members of the royal Saudi family and talks about the (undoubtedly scary) every day life of a woman in Saudi.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Wow...

Such a powerful book. To hear a full story of this princess' experience just brings you in and really makes you feel for her. I hope something can be done for women in Saudi Arabia... :(

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Below expectations

Maybe I missed it, but I did not get to hear what became of her. I have some issue of veracity about some of the things said because I have some knowledge of Saudi Arabia and Islamic traditions. Example, the author said that women cannot enter the mosque to pray, that is not correct. Every mosque has a partition in the back for women to pray at the same time as men. At home, women will pray behind the men.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I was so ignorant

I feel ashamed to have been so involved in my own life to not be aware of the injustices of women in Saudi Arabia and around the world for so may years and even to this day. I cried multiple times listening to the book and have been awakened to speak up and raise awareness regarding the treatment of women. One of the best books! So grateful.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Read this book!

I was enthralled by this book and sorry to finish it. The title and cover picture almost put me off, making me think of a romance novel, but this is not that! It's a fascinating, horrifying, detailed narrative of the life of a Saudi woman (yes, a princess, but they have many). She is economically privileged, but the story is about life as a girl and woman in Saudi Arabia, and her cruel status as a captive and an object. As I read of the cruel punishments experienced by this woman and the women of her country, it became clear that ISIS hasn't come up with anything new. These horrors really do originate in Saudi Arabia. This story and its heroines are heart breaking essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the lives of women living under Wahhabism.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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A great understanding of a princess life in Saudi Arabia

This is a well written book that takes you from a beginning in a country where not even a princess is safe from male oppression. Excited to start book number two, Princess Sultanas Daughters following by princess sultanas circle. Great trilogy!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Well done.

I really enjoyed this book. A friend from the middle east recommended it, and I'm glad that I picked it up.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Heartbreaking Reality

True story of how woman and children are treated in Saudi Arabia. Sad, disturbing and heartbreaking that this is still happening all over the world.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • MM
  • 11-11-18

Thankful for my independence

This book makes you appreciate our ability to choose our own educational and career pathpath in the United States. I’m glad that opportunities are opening elsewhere in the world is well. #arabwomen #behindtheveil #abuse #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful Book!

What a thought provoking book. I couldn't stop thinking about it for weeks after I finished. Definitely reading the next book in the series!

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2 people found this helpful