Jean Sasson
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Jean Sasson grew up in a small southern town where she was such a lover of books that she had read all the books in the school library by the time she was 16 years old. She was heavily involved in history topics, and her heroes were Dr. Thomas Dooley, the physician humanitarian who devoted his life to the sick of Cambodia and Laos, and Raoul Wallenberg, the gentle but firm humanitarian who saved many people from the Nazi death camps. Sasson was known to be an avid animal lover, owning many pets, and saving others. In 1978 she traveled to Saudi Arabia to work in the King Faisal Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh as an administrative coordinator. She worked at the hospital for 4 years, then married Peter Sasson, a British citizen who lived in the Kingdom. Jean remained in Saudi Arabia until 1991 when she began to travel the world visiting 64 countries.
Her first book was about the first day of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The book, The Rape of Kuwait, was published in 1991. It quickly became a New York Times bestseller, selling over a million copies and reaching number two on the list. Since then she has written many titles, mostly non-fiction, all with a Middle Eastern theme.
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[edit] Books
It was at an Italian embassy in 1985 that Sasson first met 'Sultana', the Saudi Princess. The two women developed a friendship and it was from 'Sultana', by whom Sasson learned more about inequalities in the Saudi society.
'Sultana' requested that Sasson write her life story, revealing the hidden life of a Saudi princess, as well as inequalities affecting the lives of women living in the kingdom, albeit the information had to remain anonymous for her safety.
This, her second book, Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia, was the first of the Middle Eastern woman genre and quickly became a New York Times and international bestseller. Princess is to be made into a movie.
The popularity of this book has prompted two sequels about Princess 'Sultana'. Both became international bestsellers.
Ester's Child, is her only historical fiction, although many readers claim it to be their favorite of all of Sasson's books.
Her sixth book, Mayada, Daughter of Iraq, tells the true story of Mayada Al-Askari, a woman Sasson met when traveling in Iraq in July 1998. This gripping book is said to be shocking and horrifying as it tells the story of women who were imprisoned in one of Saddam Hussein's most notorious prisons.
Her 7th book Love in a Torn Land: Joanna of Kurdistan, tells the story of of a beautiful Kurdish woman who lived through the Kurdish genocide.
Sasson's greatest talent seems to be her ability to pull readers into the stories she writes. Readers say that they live the experience with Sasson's heroines and heroes.
Although at the moment Sasson is working on a secret project, many readers have expressed their hope that Sasson will soon write her own life story, as it is said that her personal life story is as thrilling as those of her heroines.
[edit] Reception
While Sasson is mainly known for her true stories about women's issues, she is best known for her ability to bring her readers into the story. Stefan Ulstein, has said, "What a blessing that Jean's books continue to speak to people around the world. There are popular books, literary books., etc., but the Princess Trilogy fits into the category of important books. If you think of The Jungle, Grapes of Wrath, etc., you see books that were interesting and compelling to read, but more importantly, helped readers to see big issues through a new paradigm."
[edit] Interests
Sasson works hard researching and writing. When not working, she spends her time reading books or working to save homeless animals. As far as reading, her greatest interests are books on history. Her favorite writers are Sir Winston Churchill and Sir Richard Burton, the famous British traveler.
[edit] Bibliography
- The Rape of Kuwait
- Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia
- Princess Sultana's Daughters
- Princess Sultana's Circle
- Ester's Child
- Mayada: Daughter of Iraq
- Love in a Torn Land: Joanna of Kurdistan
