Lesbian Novel Set in the Golden Age of Islam, 9th Century Baghdad

Serious swashbuckle. Professor Samar Habib balances historical detail and sociological insight with a classic tale of starcrossed lovers, injustice, intolerance, exile, death threats, disguises, and swordfights in her new novel, Rughum & Najda. Rughum is a devout Muslim married to a much older man; Nadja is a beautiful agnostic adopted and raised by a Manichean family. A little like One Thousand One Nights or Nobel winner Naguib Mahfouz's The Harafish, the story of their difficult love unfolds in a narrative crowded with other lives, creating a communal portrait of 9th century Baghdad. It may have been the Golden Age of Islam but women risked death for their sexuality. Nevertheless, the author, who is an expert in this area, renders a convincing lesbian subculture of that era.

For more queer Arab studies from then to now, read her anthology of twenty essays Islam and Homosexuality.

Or watch her discuss Queer Representation in Arab Cinema.