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The Tale of Princess Fatima, Warrior Woman: The Arabic Epic of Dhat al-Himma
Published in English for the first time, and the only Arabic epic named for a woman, The Tale of Princess Fatima recounts the thrilling adventures of a legendary medieval warrior universally known throughout the Middle East and long overdue to join world literature's pantheon of female heroes.
A Penguin Classic
A fearsome, sword-slinging heroine who defeated countless men in stealth attacks on horseback, Dhat al-Himma, or Princess Fatima, was secretly given away at birth because she wasn't male, only to triumph as the most formidable warrior of her time. Known alternately as she-wolf, woman of high resolve, and calamity of the soul, she lives on in this rousing narrative of female empowerment, in which she leads armies of more than seventy thousand men in clashes between rival tribes and between Muslims and Christians; reconciles with her father after taking him prisoner; and fends off her infatuated cousin, who challenges her to a battle for the right to marry her. Though her cousin suffers an ignominious defeat, he impregnates Fatima against her will and, when she gives birth to a Black son, disowns his own son, who also grows up to be a great warrior, eventually avenging his mother's honor. The epic culminates in a showdown between Fatima and another formidable woman warrior, and earns Fatima a place alongside the likes of Circe, Mulan, Wonder Woman, Katniss Everdeen and other powerful women.
A Penguin Classic
A fearsome, sword-slinging heroine who defeated countless men in stealth attacks on horseback, Dhat al-Himma, or Princess Fatima, was secretly given away at birth because she wasn't male, only to triumph as the most formidable warrior of her time. Known alternately as she-wolf, woman of high resolve, and calamity of the soul, she lives on in this rousing narrative of female empowerment, in which she leads armies of more than seventy thousand men in clashes between rival tribes and between Muslims and Christians; reconciles with her father after taking him prisoner; and fends off her infatuated cousin, who challenges her to a battle for the right to marry her. Though her cousin suffers an ignominious defeat, he impregnates Fatima against her will and, when she gives birth to a Black son, disowns his own son, who also grows up to be a great warrior, eventually avenging his mother's honor. The epic culminates in a showdown between Fatima and another formidable woman warrior, and earns Fatima a place alongside the likes of Circe, Mulan, Wonder Woman, Katniss Everdeen and other powerful women.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1910
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August 7, 2021give it to me NOWW
January 4, 2022
So I was super excited for this book--not least because of the epic cover!
Honestly, over all, I can see how this story has the potential of inspiring fictional characters (the author compares her to Wonder Woman and other fictional characters like Katniss Everdeen, which is a bit of a weird comparison if you ask me, but I do see how a cool novel/comic book/movie can be made about Princess Fatima based on this epic).
But I have multiple problems with this translation. I didn't read the Arabic, so I don't know what the original is really like. But the translation is not very smooth--the prose is very stiff, as if I'm reading a bullet list of events that happened. The dialogue is also really weird--they sometimes speak very casually and use slang phrases, and other times speak in older/more "proper" sentences. If the translation stuck to one form of dialogue (either slang or proper) and removed the weird idioms that seem to only exist in English, I'd have been more convinced with their language.
Also, the translator says she selected only a few dozen out of the hundreds of stories in this epic--which is understandable, and I'm glad she acknowledges her bias when picking these. But I wish she elaborated on the selection criteria. Although I can see the general arc of the narrative--it starts from Fatima's birth, to her childhood, early adulthood, motherhood, and later adventures--they often seemed very disjointed. The end was incredibly abrupt. We were given several adventures and then suddenly only a very short paragraph at on the last page says that she peacefully.
There was also one story that seemed to be deliberately included because it was easy to twist a line in Arabic to claim that a character was lesbian. The translator includes a footnote about what the original Arabic line literally translated as, but then proceeded to translate the line in the text to make it seem like the character had homosexual attractions. I'm honestly sick of Western writers and translators who translate Muslim stories and poetries based on their own views.
In terms of the epic itself, not the translation: it was pretty interesting. I came to like Princess Fatima a lot, and I loved that she constantly called out to Allah in duaa for strength. I also loved the depiction of tribal relationships, hierarchies, inter-tribal battles and Bedouin life. I also loved that the Abbasid caliphs were included and that Princess Fatima had direct correspondence with him--and even carried out some missions for him with the Christian Rum/Byzantines of Anatolia! Those political details really fascinated me. It was upsetting to read about how some men in Fatima's family treated her--like her marriage and pregnancy--that was just terrible but I suppose it depicts the reality of some tribes at the time. Also the whole ordeal with the skin-color of Fatima's child--I found that kind of weird, but I suppose the end message was that skin color doesn't determine one's honor, righteousness, and strength. The whole reasoning they give on *why* he was that color was bizarre though.
Anyway, I'm glad I read it because of the interesting characters and depictions on Arab tribal culture and Abbasid history and the royals' relationship with the Bedouins. But some aspects of the original epic unsurprisingly do not align with our views on Islam today, and the translation could use a whole lot of improvement.
Honestly, over all, I can see how this story has the potential of inspiring fictional characters (the author compares her to Wonder Woman and other fictional characters like Katniss Everdeen, which is a bit of a weird comparison if you ask me, but I do see how a cool novel/comic book/movie can be made about Princess Fatima based on this epic).
But I have multiple problems with this translation. I didn't read the Arabic, so I don't know what the original is really like. But the translation is not very smooth--the prose is very stiff, as if I'm reading a bullet list of events that happened. The dialogue is also really weird--they sometimes speak very casually and use slang phrases, and other times speak in older/more "proper" sentences. If the translation stuck to one form of dialogue (either slang or proper) and removed the weird idioms that seem to only exist in English, I'd have been more convinced with their language.
Also, the translator says she selected only a few dozen out of the hundreds of stories in this epic--which is understandable, and I'm glad she acknowledges her bias when picking these. But I wish she elaborated on the selection criteria. Although I can see the general arc of the narrative--it starts from Fatima's birth, to her childhood, early adulthood, motherhood, and later adventures--they often seemed very disjointed. The end was incredibly abrupt. We were given several adventures and then suddenly only a very short paragraph at on the last page says that she peacefully.
There was also one story that seemed to be deliberately included because it was easy to twist a line in Arabic to claim that a character was lesbian. The translator includes a footnote about what the original Arabic line literally translated as, but then proceeded to translate the line in the text to make it seem like the character had homosexual attractions. I'm honestly sick of Western writers and translators who translate Muslim stories and poetries based on their own views.
In terms of the epic itself, not the translation: it was pretty interesting. I came to like Princess Fatima a lot, and I loved that she constantly called out to Allah in duaa for strength. I also loved the depiction of tribal relationships, hierarchies, inter-tribal battles and Bedouin life. I also loved that the Abbasid caliphs were included and that Princess Fatima had direct correspondence with him--and even carried out some missions for him with the Christian Rum/Byzantines of Anatolia! Those political details really fascinated me. It was upsetting to read about how some men in Fatima's family treated her--like her marriage and pregnancy--that was just terrible but I suppose it depicts the reality of some tribes at the time. Also the whole ordeal with the skin-color of Fatima's child--I found that kind of weird, but I suppose the end message was that skin color doesn't determine one's honor, righteousness, and strength. The whole reasoning they give on *why* he was that color was bizarre though.
Anyway, I'm glad I read it because of the interesting characters and depictions on Arab tribal culture and Abbasid history and the royals' relationship with the Bedouins. But some aspects of the original epic unsurprisingly do not align with our views on Islam today, and the translation could use a whole lot of improvement.
February 25, 2025
There are a few spoilers ahead:
This is why we need bookstores. I probably would never have seen this book if it hadn't been on the mythology shelf at my local store when I was browsing one day. The first ever, in English, publication of part of an Arabic epic from the Middle Ages, this book introduces Fatima, the only woman to have such an epic named after her. As a fan of these long, adventurous poems, I couldn't wait!
Fortunately, I knew not to take the very appealing cover too seriously, so I wasn't expecting this to be anything like a modern fantasy or graphic novel. And it's not. Like many epics, this begins with Fatima's ancestors, and explains the culture she was born into. Her amazing abilities as a young girl made me think of a young superman, and this tale does have those qualities about it, as she repeatedly performs amazing feats to protect those around her. But it also plants Fatima firmly within her culture. She is forced to marry, something she has actively resisted. She is drugged and raped by her husband, though of course her society doesn't see it that way. Fatima is a woman of incredible ability and focus who is still restricted by her society, which will never stop seeing her as merely a woman and forcing her into a more limited role.
The language did a good job feeling a bit old without being at all hard to understand for the modern readers. It's written mostly as prose, with characters breaking into poetry occasionally. Though I prefer poetry to be translated as such, this does make the story more accessible to a modern reader. However, in a few places the dialogue is oddly slangy. Early on the heroine thinks, "What a creepy guy!", which doesn't fit the setting or the language of the story. The use of the word "kid" for "child" struck me as unnecessarily anachronistic, too. Fortunately this doesn't happen too often, because it did pull me out of the tale.
This wide-ranging adventurous story was a quick read, but one I'll definitely go back to again. I recommend it to fans of epics, older fantasy stories, feminine lit or those who want to explore classic tales from other cultures. It's well worth reading, and I hope it opens the door for more and longer translations of this fascinating story.
NB - There are some questions about the translation, brought up in the introduction, that should be noted, but the story shouldn't be dismissed because of them - early translations of older works will pave the way for others with their own viewpoints. We owe a debt to the translator for bringing this classic work to our attention.
This is why we need bookstores. I probably would never have seen this book if it hadn't been on the mythology shelf at my local store when I was browsing one day. The first ever, in English, publication of part of an Arabic epic from the Middle Ages, this book introduces Fatima, the only woman to have such an epic named after her. As a fan of these long, adventurous poems, I couldn't wait!
Fortunately, I knew not to take the very appealing cover too seriously, so I wasn't expecting this to be anything like a modern fantasy or graphic novel. And it's not. Like many epics, this begins with Fatima's ancestors, and explains the culture she was born into. Her amazing abilities as a young girl made me think of a young superman, and this tale does have those qualities about it, as she repeatedly performs amazing feats to protect those around her. But it also plants Fatima firmly within her culture. She is forced to marry, something she has actively resisted. She is drugged and raped by her husband, though of course her society doesn't see it that way. Fatima is a woman of incredible ability and focus who is still restricted by her society, which will never stop seeing her as merely a woman and forcing her into a more limited role.
The language did a good job feeling a bit old without being at all hard to understand for the modern readers. It's written mostly as prose, with characters breaking into poetry occasionally. Though I prefer poetry to be translated as such, this does make the story more accessible to a modern reader. However, in a few places the dialogue is oddly slangy. Early on the heroine thinks, "What a creepy guy!", which doesn't fit the setting or the language of the story. The use of the word "kid" for "child" struck me as unnecessarily anachronistic, too. Fortunately this doesn't happen too often, because it did pull me out of the tale.
This wide-ranging adventurous story was a quick read, but one I'll definitely go back to again. I recommend it to fans of epics, older fantasy stories, feminine lit or those who want to explore classic tales from other cultures. It's well worth reading, and I hope it opens the door for more and longer translations of this fascinating story.
NB - There are some questions about the translation, brought up in the introduction, that should be noted, but the story shouldn't be dismissed because of them - early translations of older works will pave the way for others with their own viewpoints. We owe a debt to the translator for bringing this classic work to our attention.
February 7, 2022
I enjoyed this, though I do wonder a bit about the translation. I would like to read the whole epic.
At times, it feels a bit to modern. But Magidow is correct, Fatima's story will be enjoyed by those familiar with Mulan, King Arthur and Robin Hood. It does help if you are familiar with the style of epics in terms of the period.
Fatima is at first rejected because she is not a boy, but eventually is re-united with her family. There is tension between her and and her cousin for a variety of reason. What is particularly good how that tension and Fatima's desires to do what she does can be seen as still relevant today.
At times, it feels a bit to modern. But Magidow is correct, Fatima's story will be enjoyed by those familiar with Mulan, King Arthur and Robin Hood. It does help if you are familiar with the style of epics in terms of the period.
Fatima is at first rejected because she is not a boy, but eventually is re-united with her family. There is tension between her and and her cousin for a variety of reason. What is particularly good how that tension and Fatima's desires to do what she does can be seen as still relevant today.
June 22, 2022
In modern times Princess Fatima colloquially speaking is a "badass". I firstly wish the story kept going on and was the full 5000 original pages, secondly that my Arabic was good enough to read the 5000 pages. Thirdly a great effort by Melanie for introducing us to highlights of this warrior women's story.
Even though the story is set in the Arab medevial times, the struggles and persuits of this warrior women can be drawn from to represent some of the same social sexist battles women have been fighting against for thousands of years. I love the new door this book has opened, a world of a time and people I look forward to exploring even more.
Even though the story is set in the Arab medevial times, the struggles and persuits of this warrior women can be drawn from to represent some of the same social sexist battles women have been fighting against for thousands of years. I love the new door this book has opened, a world of a time and people I look forward to exploring even more.
May 20, 2020
Short extract of the Epic with both the arabic transcription and an english translation aside.
Funny how similar European and Arabic tradition can be - reminded me of the "Nibelungen" if you just switch a few words. Also yay, for the female lead who kicks butts (and gender norms).
Funny how similar European and Arabic tradition can be - reminded me of the "Nibelungen" if you just switch a few words. Also yay, for the female lead who kicks butts (and gender norms).
February 23, 2025
Kick-ass female characters ✅
Original (hehe) setting ✅
Battles ✅
Political intrigue ✅
Magic (sort of) ✅
The whole time I was reading this, I was surprised at how enjoyable it was. I guess I expected it to be preachy and full of meaningful lessons. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
“After all, religions are not so far from one another, and peoples resemble one another.”
My prejudice shone brightly, because I did not expect so many strong female characters and as many silly men.
“No one lies at my side but my sword. My attention is reserved for my horse.”
What struck me the most was the view of marriage as a way to control female freedom and independence.
“…if she marries our son, then she will lose the independence that gave such strength to her past actions.”
The only reason I’m rating this four and not five stars is the translation. I think that the translator took too much liberty with it (she said it herself in the introduction).
I considered an even lower rating because of this, however I read the book first and then the introduction, and I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.
Original (hehe) setting ✅
Battles ✅
Political intrigue ✅
Magic (sort of) ✅
The whole time I was reading this, I was surprised at how enjoyable it was. I guess I expected it to be preachy and full of meaningful lessons. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
“After all, religions are not so far from one another, and peoples resemble one another.”
My prejudice shone brightly, because I did not expect so many strong female characters and as many silly men.
“No one lies at my side but my sword. My attention is reserved for my horse.”
What struck me the most was the view of marriage as a way to control female freedom and independence.
“…if she marries our son, then she will lose the independence that gave such strength to her past actions.”
The only reason I’m rating this four and not five stars is the translation. I think that the translator took too much liberty with it (she said it herself in the introduction).
I considered an even lower rating because of this, however I read the book first and then the introduction, and I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.
November 11, 2021
I'm not sure how to really review this 167 page book. It is the translated YA work of an Arabic Epic that took place somewhere between the seventh and 10th centuries and began possibly being compiled in the 1100s. It was told orally, but when written, comprised some 6000 pages. The translator notes that the choices of what to include and how to translate, all potentially alter and reshape the narrative, so as a reviewer I'm simply going to review the text in my hands. I have no outside knowledge of this epic woman, and approached the book as I would have in high school when reading The Odyssey or Beowulf: some of the history is accurate, the characters fictitious, the culture possibly representative. As a result, I find the comparisons to Wonder Woman and Katniss Everdeen on the back cover, very odd choices. At times the contemporary diction, in my opinion cheapens the narrative. Sure I appreciate the modernization of the text to make it an easy read, but throwing in modern slang seems too much. I found the book's framing unfortunately counterproductive of what it hoped to achieve. I have no idea what the other 5,900 pages include and what the translator had to choose from, but the majority of the book focuses on marriage, being raped by her husband, and working to prove who the father of her Black son is when her and her rapist husband are white. I was prepared for battles, and conquering, and fighting misogyny, and saving the down trodden, not every one just wanting to marry her. Many of the characters are Muslim, some convert to Christianity to escape Dhat al-Himma, the Quran is quoted, prayers are made, the Kaaba visited. I do however, take issue with the explanation of the child's skin coloring being attributed to intercourse (rape) occurring while Fatima is menstruating and a case of Prophet Muhammad (saw) being used as proof of this occurring. So much of the text is footnoted, this instance is not, and I find it disturbing.
SYNOPSIS:
The story doesn't begin with the birth of Fatima, but rather with her great great grandfather. It sets the stage a bit to show culture, how women and honor are treated, and the line of her ancestry. When we get to know Fatima a few chapters later she is being born and her gender is a disappointment, so she is hidden away. As she grows away from her tribe she becomes an accomplished warrior and captures her father in a raid. When she returns to her people, her cousin, Walid, born the same time as her, is struck by her beauty and wants to marry her. She refuses. Repeatedly. Finally she agrees to battle him and if he wins, she will marry him. She wins, and he still doesn't back down, finally she is forced/tricked in to marrying him by the Caliph's agent. The two are pronounced wed, but little changes for Fatima, she is a warrior and does not seek intimacy or companionship. Eventually, her husband Walid enlists the help of Fatima's milk brother and friend, Marzuq, to have him drug Fatima, so that he can rape her. He acknowledges the rape, the whole community does, but allows it, because he is her husband. When the child is born he is Black and Walid and his family refuse to accept that the child is his. Amira Fatima is socially put on trial for being a slut, yes that word is used, and that the child is illegitimate. As Walid works to have them killed, Fatima works to prove her innocence and carry on with her life trusting in Allah swt completely, all while the Arab-Byzantine battles are raging in the borderlands. As Abdelwahhab, Fatima's son, grows he too becomes a formidable warrior and the two have continued adventures.
WHY I LIKE IT:
I love the richness of the culture coming through a compelling story. Fatima is incredibly devout in her worship of Allah, swt. She does not falter, ever. When she is being tested she needs only her faith, at one point a man converts to Islam upon having a dream as a result of her conviction in praying. That being said, I genuinely don't understand a few critical points. How can a woman who single handedly destroys tribes not be listened to, to make her own decisions to lead her own life. I get that that is perhaps the poignant point of the story in today's context, but there are a lot of strong women in this book, so why does her marriage and being defined by her not wanting to marry get so much of the spotlight? Her father didn't want her, but they don't resolve anything, they just reunite and all is well. I need more. I want to know what happened to Walid once he became Christian, was it a permanent thing, a temporary fix? What ended up happening between her and Marzuq? He was her trusted advisor and immediately regretted drugging her, what happened to him. I want more about her mother, maybe even her Aunt or other women to see how their lives compared and contrasted to the powerful women highlighted. How did they view her, was she inspiration, an anomaly, beloved, loathed?
I appreciate the footnotes, the introduction, the Note on the Translation, the further reading list, help with pronunciation and the character list. A map would have been nice.
FLAGS:
There is violence, killing, rape, talk of sexual intercourse and menstruation. There is misogyny, flirting, sexual temptation, a lesbian character, magic, jinn.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
I would not be able to lead a proper discussion on this book, I am just not knowledgeable enough on the larger story. I think I would like to be a student or be able to join a discussion led by someone well versed in The Tale of Princess Fatima and all the subtext that brought her story to life and maintained it over time. It would be fascinating.
SYNOPSIS:
The story doesn't begin with the birth of Fatima, but rather with her great great grandfather. It sets the stage a bit to show culture, how women and honor are treated, and the line of her ancestry. When we get to know Fatima a few chapters later she is being born and her gender is a disappointment, so she is hidden away. As she grows away from her tribe she becomes an accomplished warrior and captures her father in a raid. When she returns to her people, her cousin, Walid, born the same time as her, is struck by her beauty and wants to marry her. She refuses. Repeatedly. Finally she agrees to battle him and if he wins, she will marry him. She wins, and he still doesn't back down, finally she is forced/tricked in to marrying him by the Caliph's agent. The two are pronounced wed, but little changes for Fatima, she is a warrior and does not seek intimacy or companionship. Eventually, her husband Walid enlists the help of Fatima's milk brother and friend, Marzuq, to have him drug Fatima, so that he can rape her. He acknowledges the rape, the whole community does, but allows it, because he is her husband. When the child is born he is Black and Walid and his family refuse to accept that the child is his. Amira Fatima is socially put on trial for being a slut, yes that word is used, and that the child is illegitimate. As Walid works to have them killed, Fatima works to prove her innocence and carry on with her life trusting in Allah swt completely, all while the Arab-Byzantine battles are raging in the borderlands. As Abdelwahhab, Fatima's son, grows he too becomes a formidable warrior and the two have continued adventures.
WHY I LIKE IT:
I love the richness of the culture coming through a compelling story. Fatima is incredibly devout in her worship of Allah, swt. She does not falter, ever. When she is being tested she needs only her faith, at one point a man converts to Islam upon having a dream as a result of her conviction in praying. That being said, I genuinely don't understand a few critical points. How can a woman who single handedly destroys tribes not be listened to, to make her own decisions to lead her own life. I get that that is perhaps the poignant point of the story in today's context, but there are a lot of strong women in this book, so why does her marriage and being defined by her not wanting to marry get so much of the spotlight? Her father didn't want her, but they don't resolve anything, they just reunite and all is well. I need more. I want to know what happened to Walid once he became Christian, was it a permanent thing, a temporary fix? What ended up happening between her and Marzuq? He was her trusted advisor and immediately regretted drugging her, what happened to him. I want more about her mother, maybe even her Aunt or other women to see how their lives compared and contrasted to the powerful women highlighted. How did they view her, was she inspiration, an anomaly, beloved, loathed?
I appreciate the footnotes, the introduction, the Note on the Translation, the further reading list, help with pronunciation and the character list. A map would have been nice.
FLAGS:
There is violence, killing, rape, talk of sexual intercourse and menstruation. There is misogyny, flirting, sexual temptation, a lesbian character, magic, jinn.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
I would not be able to lead a proper discussion on this book, I am just not knowledgeable enough on the larger story. I think I would like to be a student or be able to join a discussion led by someone well versed in The Tale of Princess Fatima and all the subtext that brought her story to life and maintained it over time. It would be fascinating.
January 23, 2023
Interesting to read an ancient Arab epic (or at least an abridged version). However, the translation all felt a bit too modernised - it didn’t really feel like an ancient text, and it seemed to lack grandeur as a result. Other reviews have raised concerns about the translation. I’m not an expert, so read others’ views, but I did find the decision to remove patriarchal overtones, heavy references to religion, and descriptions of violence puzzling. It made me unsure whether I had really engaged with an ancient text or just a modern tale.
That being said, Fattimah is an interesting character and I did enjoy her repeated bestings of men.
That being said, Fattimah is an interesting character and I did enjoy her repeated bestings of men.
October 29, 2025
So eventful yet so boring
October 24, 2025
rounded up 3.5 because it's just so lovely to hear an Islamic epic, and one with a woman who fights her way out of anything and scoffs at husbands
between this and the Odyssey I'm quite swept away by how much happens in even just one chapter of an epic, quite dizzying
between this and the Odyssey I'm quite swept away by how much happens in even just one chapter of an epic, quite dizzying
July 26, 2022
AMÉ TOTALMENTE el libro, es hermoso, me hizo investigar y conectar ciertos datos medievalitos con el mundo cristiano y bizantino.
La prosa es ágil, amas a los personajes, la fortaleza de Fátima y el hecho de que haya sido escrito en una época donde no se esperaba que las mujeres ocuparan ciertos oficios, increíble.
La prosa es ágil, amas a los personajes, la fortaleza de Fátima y el hecho de que haya sido escrito en una época donde no se esperaba que las mujeres ocuparan ciertos oficios, increíble.
April 3, 2023
Picked this up as I'm trying to read more diversely. However, like other reviews mentioned, the translator said that she was taking very creative liberties in her translation choices which leaves me quite unsure of how faithful or true to the original this is. Overall, I enjoyed reading this series of stories centered around Fatima.
February 26, 2022
i liked how accessible this was and refreshing to read smth from this angle as research for my disso rlly has been traumatising me - so interesting to notice parallels tho
March 23, 2023
Muy bueno!!!
Entretenido, excelente traducción, genial además tantos personajes femeninos fuertes y protagónicos para un texto épico tan antiguo!
Entretenido, excelente traducción, genial además tantos personajes femeninos fuertes y protagónicos para un texto épico tan antiguo!
August 7, 2025
Here's the discussion post I wrote for grad school:
My initial reaction to The Tale of Princess Fatima, Warrior Woman is that it's just a really good story. As many others have mentioned, the language of this translation is straightforward, Fatima is a compelling character, and villains like Walid are just downright creepy. I was very interested by the translator's discussion about some of her decisions noted in the introduction and translator's note. When studying global literature, reading translations is a necessity. It's very easy to forget, however, that a text changes no matter how it's translated. Magidow discusses how she had to select only parts of this epic to translate, as the original story spans hundreds of hours and thousands of pages. Magidow's note that her hope for this translation "was not to copy and paste [the epic] into English, but to convey its stories as a storyteller" made me wonder how this translation compares to the meaning conveyed through the original manuscript. Additionally, this was an oral story kept alive primarily by male storytellers. One has to wonder how their retellings changed the story before it was first written down in the early 1900s.
While reading this epic, I was fascinated by the fluidity of identity shown by several characters. Fatima was raised as a servant and served another clan before returning to her family and regaining her princess status. She often presents as male when fighting but is recognized for her feminine beauty off of the battlefield. Likewise, characters such as Zalim and Walid affect a different religion for the sake of political power, and Nura is so taken by Al-Battal that she appears to leave behind her attraction to women. In Fatima's case, however, it is only other people's perceptions of her identity that change. Fatima always knows who she is and trusts in her god to see her goals brought to fruition. This fluidity plays into the theme of boundaries and liminal spaces present in the story.
The sections about the conception and birth of Fatima's son Abdelwahhab reminded me of a quote from Giladi's chapter. They write, "the wife is devalued . . . one valorises the mother." After Fatima is forced into marriage, Walid is hoping to control her. When this fails, he tries to use rape and forced impregnation as another means of control. While it's a bit unclear whether he genuinely believes that Abdelwahhab is a bastard, he knows that his claim on Fatima is lost if others believe it. Here, Fatima is devalued both as a wife and mother until it is proven that Abdelwahhab is Walid's son. She then becomes a legendary hero whose son is another legendary hero, strengthening her valor. Through Walid's jealousy and desire for control over Fatima, it is actually Fatima who later gains the power in this situation.
The last topic I want to mention is Fatima's death. I thought that it was very fitting that Fatima died of illness while on a pilgrimage to Mecca. She remained an undefeated warrior and died in service to her god. In the end, her faith was the strongest thing about her. Even when her life was difficult, her trust in religion saw her through. In this way, she reminded me of the many stories of virtuous women presented in The Book of the City of Ladies. Fatima lived on her own terms and stayed true to her beliefs, though many men tried to best her.
My initial reaction to The Tale of Princess Fatima, Warrior Woman is that it's just a really good story. As many others have mentioned, the language of this translation is straightforward, Fatima is a compelling character, and villains like Walid are just downright creepy. I was very interested by the translator's discussion about some of her decisions noted in the introduction and translator's note. When studying global literature, reading translations is a necessity. It's very easy to forget, however, that a text changes no matter how it's translated. Magidow discusses how she had to select only parts of this epic to translate, as the original story spans hundreds of hours and thousands of pages. Magidow's note that her hope for this translation "was not to copy and paste [the epic] into English, but to convey its stories as a storyteller" made me wonder how this translation compares to the meaning conveyed through the original manuscript. Additionally, this was an oral story kept alive primarily by male storytellers. One has to wonder how their retellings changed the story before it was first written down in the early 1900s.
While reading this epic, I was fascinated by the fluidity of identity shown by several characters. Fatima was raised as a servant and served another clan before returning to her family and regaining her princess status. She often presents as male when fighting but is recognized for her feminine beauty off of the battlefield. Likewise, characters such as Zalim and Walid affect a different religion for the sake of political power, and Nura is so taken by Al-Battal that she appears to leave behind her attraction to women. In Fatima's case, however, it is only other people's perceptions of her identity that change. Fatima always knows who she is and trusts in her god to see her goals brought to fruition. This fluidity plays into the theme of boundaries and liminal spaces present in the story.
The sections about the conception and birth of Fatima's son Abdelwahhab reminded me of a quote from Giladi's chapter. They write, "the wife is devalued . . . one valorises the mother." After Fatima is forced into marriage, Walid is hoping to control her. When this fails, he tries to use rape and forced impregnation as another means of control. While it's a bit unclear whether he genuinely believes that Abdelwahhab is a bastard, he knows that his claim on Fatima is lost if others believe it. Here, Fatima is devalued both as a wife and mother until it is proven that Abdelwahhab is Walid's son. She then becomes a legendary hero whose son is another legendary hero, strengthening her valor. Through Walid's jealousy and desire for control over Fatima, it is actually Fatima who later gains the power in this situation.
The last topic I want to mention is Fatima's death. I thought that it was very fitting that Fatima died of illness while on a pilgrimage to Mecca. She remained an undefeated warrior and died in service to her god. In the end, her faith was the strongest thing about her. Even when her life was difficult, her trust in religion saw her through. In this way, she reminded me of the many stories of virtuous women presented in The Book of the City of Ladies. Fatima lived on her own terms and stayed true to her beliefs, though many men tried to best her.
May 24, 2024
I happened upon this book at a local bookstore in the “strong females” section. I truly enjoyed reading about the legendary, she-knight Princess Fatima! Other than a few short stories and poems I haven’t ever read any Arabic literature, history, or myths. That made this reading experience very fresh and interesting for me.
I’m very grateful the translator took the time to translate part of Fatima’s legend into English. I feel that myself and many other English speakers never would have happened upon her story if it wasn’t for Magidow’s translation. I feel the need to thank the translator for her efforts because of the numerous reviewers bashing this book because they don’t appreciate the translator’s work.
To those complaining about Magidow’s translation I have this to say: go learn Arabic and read the original text. Oh wait that’s too difficult you say?? Well in that case perhaps you should consider how challenging it was for Magidow to translate just a handful of Fatima’s stories. I for one appreciate Magidow for selecting her favorite stories and translating them into easy to read English. And as far as Magidow sprinkling in her own voice and opinions through the choices she made in her translation GOOD FOR HER. I appreciate her notes at the beginning when she details the creative choices she made, if it was going to turn you off on the whole book why bother reading past her notes section in the beginning?? I can understand wanting to know the precise, dictionary definition of the word’s meanings in the original language but if that was my main concern I’d be learning Arabic myself.
Give this book a chance if you want another strong female character in your life! And (like Fatima) just sword slice all the haters who try and tell you this translation iSn’T gOoD eNoUgH.
I’m very grateful the translator took the time to translate part of Fatima’s legend into English. I feel that myself and many other English speakers never would have happened upon her story if it wasn’t for Magidow’s translation. I feel the need to thank the translator for her efforts because of the numerous reviewers bashing this book because they don’t appreciate the translator’s work.
To those complaining about Magidow’s translation I have this to say: go learn Arabic and read the original text. Oh wait that’s too difficult you say?? Well in that case perhaps you should consider how challenging it was for Magidow to translate just a handful of Fatima’s stories. I for one appreciate Magidow for selecting her favorite stories and translating them into easy to read English. And as far as Magidow sprinkling in her own voice and opinions through the choices she made in her translation GOOD FOR HER. I appreciate her notes at the beginning when she details the creative choices she made, if it was going to turn you off on the whole book why bother reading past her notes section in the beginning?? I can understand wanting to know the precise, dictionary definition of the word’s meanings in the original language but if that was my main concern I’d be learning Arabic myself.
Give this book a chance if you want another strong female character in your life! And (like Fatima) just sword slice all the haters who try and tell you this translation iSn’T gOoD eNoUgH.
February 18, 2025
Read as audiobook. As a modern reader, I have mixed feelings about this work. Most of it is a warrior epic with all the battles and strategy a reader could want. Then there's these few chapters in the middle that are very sexist and racist. Now, this isn't uncommon in historical works, but it hit a little harder as an audiobook.
December 1, 2025
3.5
Lots of things to love (heroism, epic battles, skin colour not determining honour or rightousness), but as this was a selection of tales from hundreds of stories, the flow and pace didn't work for me. Also, the translation seemed quite stilted and abrupt? Of course this is bound to happen in part when translating from one language to another but I have read enough translated works to know it's not always the case.
Again, another tale I wish I coils read in the original language.
Lots of things to love (heroism, epic battles, skin colour not determining honour or rightousness), but as this was a selection of tales from hundreds of stories, the flow and pace didn't work for me. Also, the translation seemed quite stilted and abrupt? Of course this is bound to happen in part when translating from one language to another but I have read enough translated works to know it's not always the case.
Again, another tale I wish I coils read in the original language.
Read
December 27, 2024"He related his story to her, concluding, 'Here's what I want you to do. Go to her and tell her how miserable I am.'"
"He opened his eyes and gazed at her. His liver almost split from joy, and he fainted momentarily."
"The midwife returned to Zalim, saying, 'Good news! Your brother's wife had a son, but the baby died.'"
"Al-Battal just said, 'Torture with that fine lady is a pleasure.'"
"He opened his eyes and gazed at her. His liver almost split from joy, and he fainted momentarily."
"The midwife returned to Zalim, saying, 'Good news! Your brother's wife had a son, but the baby died.'"
"Al-Battal just said, 'Torture with that fine lady is a pleasure.'"
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January 24, 2023Makes me think of that "girls when they're reading a translation and they know that while the true and cultural and connotative meaning of the original text may be obscure to them.........." tweet
October 7, 2021
The translation was very uneven. It seemed very formal and stiff, and yet had very modern slang interspersed.
September 18, 2023
A unique and little-known epic with a new translation. Fatima really is quite an extraordinary main character, as much for her faith as her fighting prowess. TW for sexual assault scene.
May 5, 2025
“The morning parted us, Like a sword removed from its sheath.”
September 28, 2024
A very interesting epic tale from medieval-era Arabia. The only one with a female hero. Princess Fatima is unbeatable on the battlefield, but faces several challenges, in particular from her amorous cousin (ewww).
February 3, 2026
Very interesting and worth a read!
February 21, 2023
This was such an amazing translation and I really enjoyed this story! The introduction notes were so helpful for understanding this sirat as it was my first frontier epic from the Arabic period
November 9, 2022
Interesante que ubiquen a una mujer como heroína conociendo su cultura ¡qué alegría!
August 27, 2023
Linda historia que arranca con los antepasados de Fátima y pasan varios capítulos hasta conocerla, historias con muchas batallas, traiciones, amoríos y reconciliaciones.
February 11, 2026
My first foray into Medieval Arabic fantasy epics and I was delightfully content. I found the text be entertaining, illustrative, and engaging. The value, though, lies in its potential for literary analysis across a spectrum of disciplines. I can't recommend the scholarly article cited in this book enough: Conceiving the Pre-Modern Black-Arab Hero
I do have one critique.
My principal critique concerns the translations’ inconsistent handling of social status terminology. This problem arises precisely at the intersection of Magidow’s stated editorial claims. While she deliberately understates violence in the text, her more significant challenge lies in navigating slavery for a contemporary Anglophone audience. As she puts it, she has “tailored [the translation] to a broad audience reading in English in a contemporary, pluralistic context,” I presume to avoid evoking the horrors of Atlantic chattel slavery when rendering references to enslaved persons in medieval Islamic lands.
Yet this intention produces a funky contradiction. Magidow predominantly refers to Princess Fatima as a “servant,” but shifts to “slave” at moments of conflict; particularly when insults are hurled at her or when Fatima protests her status, declaring, “I’m no slave-girl!” This terminological instability inadvertently undermines the very clarity Magidow seeks to provide. Consider these two passages that illustrate the inconsistency:
In the first example, "servants" and "slave" appear in the same sentence without explanation; in the second, Fatima's vehement denial of slave status clashes with narrative descriptions that treat her as precisely that. These shifts confuse the reader rather than provide clarity and historical nuance.
Here Magidow is faced with a genuine dilemma: how to translate slavery that differs from modern conceptions of race-based chattel slavery. Her caution is understandable. As Rachel Schine observes, scholars must navigate "the issue of translating sexual violation across language, space, and time" and to this we might add slavery and race.
Magidow demonstrates historical sensitivity elsewhere, providing footnotes to contextualize race and skin color in the medieval Islamic world. Yet by oscillating between “servant” and “slave” without transparent rationale, she creates an incongruity that weakens the text’s coherence albeit slightly. The unexplained shifts risk precisely what she sought to avoid: readers importing anachronistic assumptions about race and slavery, especially when commentary on ‘Abdelwahhab dark complexion and status enter the narrative.
When the terminology wobbles this much, even the most charitable reader might wonder whether it's precautionary or a sleight of hand. Alas…Magidow has a cross to bear (wink, wink) as the translation's in print now.
I do have one critique.
My principal critique concerns the translations’ inconsistent handling of social status terminology. This problem arises precisely at the intersection of Magidow’s stated editorial claims. While she deliberately understates violence in the text, her more significant challenge lies in navigating slavery for a contemporary Anglophone audience. As she puts it, she has “tailored [the translation] to a broad audience reading in English in a contemporary, pluralistic context,” I presume to avoid evoking the horrors of Atlantic chattel slavery when rendering references to enslaved persons in medieval Islamic lands.
Yet this intention produces a funky contradiction. Magidow predominantly refers to Princess Fatima as a “servant,” but shifts to “slave” at moments of conflict; particularly when insults are hurled at her or when Fatima protests her status, declaring, “I’m no slave-girl!” This terminological instability inadvertently undermines the very clarity Magidow seeks to provide. Consider these two passages that illustrate the inconsistency:
The servants said, "The fiend of Bani Tayy did it." At this, the brothers drew their swords and went in search of Fatima's master, for it was the custom to take revenge against a slave on the slave's master.
"Stop talking like that! Or, by the pride of the great Arabs, and the truth of the One, I'll kill myself. I am no slave!" And she tugged a veil across her face, because face veiling was not customary for servants.
In the first example, "servants" and "slave" appear in the same sentence without explanation; in the second, Fatima's vehement denial of slave status clashes with narrative descriptions that treat her as precisely that. These shifts confuse the reader rather than provide clarity and historical nuance.
Here Magidow is faced with a genuine dilemma: how to translate slavery that differs from modern conceptions of race-based chattel slavery. Her caution is understandable. As Rachel Schine observes, scholars must navigate "the issue of translating sexual violation across language, space, and time" and to this we might add slavery and race.
Magidow demonstrates historical sensitivity elsewhere, providing footnotes to contextualize race and skin color in the medieval Islamic world. Yet by oscillating between “servant” and “slave” without transparent rationale, she creates an incongruity that weakens the text’s coherence albeit slightly. The unexplained shifts risk precisely what she sought to avoid: readers importing anachronistic assumptions about race and slavery, especially when commentary on ‘Abdelwahhab dark complexion and status enter the narrative.
“She renounced me for the preposterous reason that she prefers slaves! Now she has a Black bastard, and she claims it’s mine!”
When the terminology wobbles this much, even the most charitable reader might wonder whether it's precautionary or a sleight of hand. Alas…Magidow has a cross to bear (wink, wink) as the translation's in print now.
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