The Rape of Kuwait: The True Story of Iraqi Atrocities Against a Civilian Population

by Jean Sasson

The Rape of Kuwait was written right after the invasion and prior to the first Gulf War that freed Kuwait from Iraq's grasp. The book consists of individual stories of what people experienced on the day of the invasion. There are stories about Kuwaitis, Palestinians, and other nationalities.

Author Jean Sasson traveled to London, Cairo, and Saudi Arabia to interview those fleeing the violence. She was one of the few writers given an interview by Kuwait's Emir and Kuwait's Prime Minister.

The book hit #2 on the New York Times Bestseller's list as it was the only book that told what was happening on the day of the invasion. Readers note that the war had not yet started, nor ended, so there is no resolution regarding the war in this book. It is strictly about human beings caught up in war.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Middle East, War, Memoir

154 pages, Paperback

Published January 15, 1991

About the author

Jean Sasson was born in a small town in Alabama. An avid reader from an early age, she had read all the books in her school library by the time she was 15 years old. She also began her book collection at age 15. When given the chance to travel, Sasson accepted a position at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh, and lived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 12 years. She traveled extensively, visiting 66 countries over the course of 30 years.

Jean started her writing career in 1991 when she wrote the book, THE RAPE OF KUWAIT. The book was an instant best-seller, reaching #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. When the Kuwaiti Embassy in Washington heard that soldiers sent to free Kuwait did not know why they were there, the Embassy sent 200,000 copies to the region. Later Sasson wrote PRINCESS: A TRUE STORY OF LIFE BEHIND THE VEIL IN SAUDI ARABIA, which is the story of a princess in the royal house of al-Sa'ud. The book was an international bestseller published in 68 different editions (also staying on the NYTIMES bestseller list for 13 weeks). Later Sasson wrote two sequels (DAUGHTERS AND CIRCLE). Please visit this link to read an interview with the author about her book "Princess": http://reith-jerevinan.blogspot.com/2....

Other groundbreaking books followed: MAYADA, DAUGHTER OF IRAQ; ESTER'S CHILD; LOVE IN A TORN LAND; GROWING UP BIN LADEN (please visit this page to read an in-depth interview with Jean Sasson about "Growing Up bin Laden" http://www.thedailybeast.com/contribu... and FOR THE LOVE OF A SON.

In March 2012, an e-book short was released: AMERICAN CHICK IN SAUDI ARABIA, which consists of the first three chapters of Sasson's autobiography. On the second day of release, the book reached #1 on Barnes & Noble biography bestseller list. Jean's latest release is YASMEENA'S CHOICE, a heartbreaker of a story about two women (one Kuwaiti and the other Lebanese) kidnapped to be raped & tortured by the Iraqi special forces in occupied Kuwait. (Please visit this link to see an itnerview with Jean Sasson about her newest book "Yasmeena's Choice: http://gulfnews.com/arts-entertainmen...).

Jean's 12th book, PRINCESS, MORE TEARS to CRY has just been released and is available in the English language in most countries. Foreign editions will be available throughout the next year. Jean Sasson's official website is: www.jeansasson.com.

Reviews

[Teshura · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I rate this book "really liked it" don't mis-understand me. I did not like reading about what horrible things happened, but rather I think Jean Sasson is remarkably able to convey the the stories and the lives of the people who survived the horror. It is a very good read, and enlightening. I recommend it to anyone who has forgotten that the middle east is not a "those people over there" but rather a conglomeration of many, many individuals, each one of whom also has history, a heartbreak, a love, an identity.

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another book I rented from the library. It was a very short book. It only took me a few hours to read it. I got the 1991 version so it was a little weird to read a prediction of what would happen after it had already been over and done with for 15 years. These people absolutely did not deserve what happened to them, and I sincerely hope they were able to find their lost loved ones.

[Lorelei · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really glad to have read this - I was busy with very small children when this was happening, and I really didn't understand what was going on. Not an easy read, or for that matter that well written, but truly necessary to understanding what I didn't when I was half a world away and safe in my home.

[Chad Manske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aug 2, 1990 will always be remembered by Kuwaitis as the day their country was forever changed. Saddam Hussein jealously invaded the small, rich country that so generously helped underwrite their 8 year war with Iran had its way with the country, its property, people and possessions. The atrocities committed were of the worst kind--rape, torture and executions of all manner. Sasson quickly published this book even before the U.S. led coalition began its work, as a means to get the truth, facts and stories of the Kuwaitis into the public sphere. Thanks to my new friend Ambassador Faisal Al-Ghais, who was Kuwaiti ambassador to Brazil at the time of the invasion, for allowing me to read his original copy of this book.

[Aaliyah Behbehani · Rating 5 out of 5]

It touched my heart knowing that people around had each other's back for instance the relationship that the Kuwaitis and the Egyptians had between one another & the Saudis as well & I never knew that the Palestinians were sided up with the Iraqis, the only reason why I was surprised cause to this day there are a lot of Palestinians living in Kuwait which shows how Kuwait isn't a nation that generalizes people's backgrounds.

[KΣlls · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a lot about the differences in culture, and comparing Western civilization compared to Middle Eatern culture. Gender roles and the abuse and mistreatment of young girls and women. How men, government, and religious leaders are very unusually cruel and harsh to women/young girls and very tolerant and biased towrds all men! Some of the best reading I've ever done, I learned A LOT!!

[Arub · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very intense, very descriptive and not for the faint of heart. The rape scenes are brutal and can be quite long. The language is quite graphic at times, but it is an eye opener and a great read. One of the few books I've read where I felt I was present in the situation - not exactly a good thing, but a testament to the author. War is horrible. War is particularly horrible for women and children in developing countries. This book details that perfectly. I finished this book in two days. Would recommend it for adults.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author's first book and not the best. It is a collection of 1-2 page stories of the people of Kuwait during th invasion. After a few of them you get the idea. It should have been a novel like her other books. Not terrible but hard to get through the entire thing.

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was reminded of this book which I read after the first Gulf war last night while watching the film Devil's Double which I thought was very well done but not very nice to watch the torture and news reel parts.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this just after returning from my tour in Kuwait. Knowing what I know I have to say while it tooks us a while to give the Iraqis a chance we certainly needed to do it.

[Reading For Sanity · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this review and others at http://readingforsanity.blogspot.com/...

[Yvonne]

Essential reading to understand the country's history

[Edwina Book Anaconda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stuff of nightmares ...
I can't stop crying long enough to write anything else at this time.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers the events in Kuwait after the invasion by Iraqi forces in 1990. Iraqi forces stormed in, overwhelming the small Kuwaiti forces. Kuwaiti officials fled, and Kuwait was annexed by Iraq. The purpose of this was to gain control over Kuwait's oil, which equaled about 20% of the world's oil reserve at that time. Iraqi troops went on a raping campaign, which apparently is just a thing that people all over the world and across centuries think belong in their war arsenal. They attacked Kuwaiti citizens with axes and other weapons, beat them, shot them, and hung bodies and parts of bodies in the streets. They destroyed a lot of cars and buildings. Of course, during their withdrawal they famously set oil wells on fire, costing millions of dollars in damages, fire fighting efforts, and clean up.

This book provided an accurate description of what life was like for those living in this mess. I thought the book was engaging and factual. The issue is that it does cover some pretty graphic things, so if you are easily bothered by that type of stuff, you may want to steer clear. If you are interested in the Gulf War at all, this might be a good book for you to check out. I have said before that I enjoy Jean Sasson's works on the Middle East, and this one did not disappoint me.

[Izah Ahmad · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rape of Kuwait has been nothing but eye-opening and heart-wrenching book. Gulfs' politic is seriously twisted in so many ways that I couldn't comprehend it all.

Jealousy and greed among the countries definitely disunited the Gulfs. I couldn't believe those nasty comments that were thrown to Kuwaitis when they were sieged by Iraqi's regime.

Despite of that, I've seen the sense of human-ship that showed by Saudis, and strong statesmanship of Kuwaitis in this book. I am truly impressed with their bravery on fighting for the homeland despite favors are definitely outsided them, and as for Saudis on providing a safe place for the refugees.

Self-serving policies of Arabs serves nothing but the division of Arabs that literally killing them back in just a matter of a time. The unity of Arabs will help them to get a piece of serenity to their own land.

[Shelfari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, heart wrenching read. I learned a lot of the August 2, 1990 invasion of Iraq in Kuwait. Iraqis came under the pretense that Kuwaitis has invited them to free them from the Kuwaiti Prince while in reality, the Kuwaiti people love their rulers.

I was a little suspiscios about the mention of Ayatollah Khomeini and how he was a fundamentalist who "with Islamic rhetoric, suicide bombings, plan hijackings...sought to dismantle the facade of the peaceable nation." That just means I need to start reading about the Irani history next.

Overall, very informative: I finished reading in less than a day.

[Nakubulwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iliked it and the some time iwas bored alittle because it contains short stories yet ienjoy reading aone whole package like MAYADA but all in all its good that now I history of it and what they went through

[Sireesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dreadful experiences of Kuwaitis during Iraq invasion

[Milusa · Rating 4 out of 5]

it somehow reminded me 1968 in Czechoslovakia - "friendly takeover"

[Mick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read. Could have been better had it contained more in depth details of the war. The book is about a random jottings of how some of the lives were affected.

[Laurie Stoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being such a huge fan of Jean Sasson, I can't believe how long it took for me to read The Rape of Kuwait. Especially since my husband had "boots on the ground" during Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

For the second time of our 29 moves in 33 years we find ourselves living in the Middle East again (Bahrain).

I will say that as with everything, reading, watching a movie, etc., our reaction and the impact often is based on our education, knowledge, life experiences, etc.

I would love a follow up as to the brave individuals that shared their stories and where they are now and their perspective this many years later.

[Fatma Al-Qais · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small book but i took my time reading it from how heart-wrenching it was. I was so interested in the fact that this book was published before the Desert Storm and the liberation of Kuwait both happened, to read words of uncertainty about the state of my country’s freedom in war, tragic.

the stories broke my heart, I cried a lot trying to picture what happened, cried even more when I heard the news about the returning of the remains of 2 of Kuwait’s men in Iraq, 31 years later the pain still lives on in parts of the country, just when we thought the wound was healed and sealed.

ALLAH
KUWAIT
EMIR
🇰🇼

[Janice Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a passion for understanding and learning about the Middle East. Growing up during the time of the Gulf War, I was too young to fully understand or comprehend the magnitude of the situation. The author interviews Kuwaiti citizens highlighting the cruelty, the torture, and the fight for a free nation. The atrocities committed by Hussein and his army were horrifying but yet the citizen fought for their land. It is an in-depth view of wartime Kuwait and the effects it scarred its citizens who survived. It's raw, its real, and definitely not for the weak hearted. Definitely made me count my blessings and appreciate my liberties as well as our armed troops who fought the fight this devil

[Joey Patapas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was gifted this book shortly after the First Gulf War and was very interested in the personal stories that were within. I found the book very frustrating, not because of how it was written, but by how clueless the Kuwaiti people were in the stories. I recall one person deciding the flee the country, but first makes a stop at a supermarket to get his daughter’s favourite meal (chicken and ketchup). Seriously?!? You are running for your lives, your daughter is eating canned beans and spam until you are safe! We are suppose to feel sympathy for these people, but I ended up feeling incredulity.

[Ariel Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read, I adore Jean Sasson and all of her writings. She does a wonderful job and shedding light on the horrors in the Middle East, specifically in regards to women. However, this book was solely dedicated to the invasion of Kuwait and the atrocities that followed. Truly, truly horrific, awful, and tragic. I only gave it a four instead of five due to some grammatical errors, I believe this was one of her earlier writings. But overall, fantastic work, highly recommend Jean Sasson to anyone interested in the Middle East and women in that culture.

[BradMD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and educational. Tells the story of Kuwait just before and after August 2, 1990 when it was invaded by Iraq. Some very interesting politics and propaganda are explained. Then there are stories of violence, devastation, and rape. There are questions in my mind about the author's support of the Kuwaiti government, which I would like to have explained. There seems to be a movement for a parliament.

[Sunset · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read. Could have been better had it contained more in depth details of the war. The book is about a random jottings of how some of the lives were affected.

[Karissa Chorbajian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is part of history I was never taught in school. It's a powerful book and I'm glad I read it.

[Amnah · Rating 3 out of 5]

many inaccuracies regarding the history of kuwait and al sabah but a good read nonetheless