Three Centuries of Travel Writing by Muslim Women

"Travel accounts of course describe places, but they also, invariably, reveal the traveler and the cultural world that each writer brings along with her luggage. These rich and varied accounts, written over three centuries in 10 different languages, dissolve any stereotype one might have of 'the Muslim woman,' and they offer a rich resource for specialists and general readers alike. Whether read straight through, or sampled by entries that catch the eye, this is a book to enjoy."

~Barbara Metcalf, University of California, Davis, Emerita

"Compiled by editors Siobhan Lambert-Hurley, Daniel Majchrowicz and Sunil Sharma, Three Centuries of Travel Writing by Muslim Women showcases writings from 45 Muslim women — acquired through an extensive selection of writings in 10 languages, including Arabic, Turkish, Urdu, Punjabi, Indonesian, English and others. . . . What emerges is a group of women writers who were not afraid to voice their thoughts in the presence of authority figures and unfavourable circumstances. Three Centuries of Travel Writing by Muslim Women Writers is an enduring testament to just a few of the countless fascinating stories documented by women travellers throughout the ages."

~Fehmida Zakeer, The National News

"This anthology will be of interest to anyone working on travel, colonial history, Muslim women, and comparative literature, Islamic Studies. It will also be an excellent resource in many courses that cover a range of topics be it religious piety, feminism, travel, travel writing, and much more."

~Shobhana Xavier, Queen's University, New Books Network

"The amount of work that has gone into uncovering these sources should not be understated. Lambert-Hurley and her team researched the book over seven years, collaborating with experts in Arabic sources and visiting private collections in rural Punjab. Three Centuries of Travel Writing by Muslim Women is all the more valuable for rendering visible a previously unwritten history of Muslim women travellers. It deserves a place on your bookshelf!"

~Evelyn Nichols (she/her), Off the Shelf

"This anthology will interest scholars and general readers wanting to know more about travel writing, gender, Muslim women, Islamic studies, colonial history and global history. It is also a good resource for many undergraduate and graduate courses."

~Ammad Ali Malik, The News on Sunday (Pakistan)

"Three Centuries of Travel Writing by Muslim Women fills important gaps in the history of Islam and the Islamicate cultures....Among the merits of this collection is that it can be read at multiple levels. It appeals to students of Islamic history because it offers important insights about family structures and social habits, including some interesting ethno-graphic notes that are otherwise under looked in texts that are more focused on the history of the Islamic institutions. It is an important tool for students who have an interest in gender and women studies especially as it contributes to decentring Europe and the West and shifting the focus on the Muslim world."

~Lucia Sorbera, The University of Sydney, Afriche e Orienti

"This timely scholarly intervention provides a much-needed counternarrative to the stereotypical conceptions and notions of what it meant—or means—to be a Muslim woman . . . Going through the narratives in Three Centuries of Travel Writing by Muslim Women, one is touched by their authenticity. In speaking of traditionally feminine concerns, none of the women seem to be relinquishing power, but rather exerting it, usually in a quiet, confident, and rather subversive manner. The excerpts contained in the book suggest that a much larger and richer body of work is available for translation to provide alternative, authentic narratives of the Muslim woman's experience."

~Mariam Zia, Lahore School of Economics and South Asia Institute, Harvard University, Scholarly Editing