41 pages 1 hour read

Hanan al-Shaykh

The Story of Zahra

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1986

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

The Story of Zahra by Hanan al-Shaykh is set in Beirut during the onset of the Lebanese Civil War and follows Zahra as she grapples with family pressures, societal expectations, and the chaos of conflict. The novel is narrated mostly in the first person by Zahra, with some chapters by her uncle and husband, and explores themes of sexual repression, abandonment, displacement, and patriarchal violence. It includes instances of rape, abortion, civil war, self-harm, drug use, thoughts of suicide, medical abuse, and murder.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Hanan al-Shaykh's The Story of Zahra presents a powerful narrative set against the Lebanese Civil War, exploring themes of trauma, identity, and resilience. Reviewers praise its vivid prose and complex character development, though some find its pacing uneven. The novel's raw depiction of war's impact on personal lives is both unsettling and compelling.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Story of Zahra?

Readers who appreciate intense, emotionally rich narratives and are interested in exploring themes of war, identity, and gender will enjoy The Story of Zahra by Hanan al-Shaykh. Comparable to The Kite Runner for its cultural depth and A Thousand Splendid Suns for its focus on women's experiences, this novel will resonate deeply.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Themes

Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride

Identity: Gender

Society: Nation

Topics

Women's Studies (Nonfiction)

Military / War

Gender / Feminism

Genre

Historical Fiction