Women and the Fatimids in the world of Islam - Delia Cortese

This first full-length study of women and the Fatimids is a groundbreaking work investigating an unexplored area in the field of Islamic and medieval studies.The authors have unearthed a wealth of references to women, thus re-inscribing their role in the history of one of the most fascinating Islamic dynasties, the only one to be named after a woman.
At last some light is thrown on the erstwhile silent and shadowy figures of women under the Fatimids which
gives them a presence in the history of women in medieval and pre-modern dynasties.Basing their research on a variety of sources from historical works to chronicles, official correspondence, documentary sources and archaeological findings, the authors have provided a richly informative analysis of the status and influence of women in this period.
Their contribution is explored first within the context of Isma'ili and Fatimid genealogical history, and then within the courts in their roles as mothers, courtesans, wives and daughters, and as workers and servants.
Throughout the book comparison is drawn with the status and roles of women in earlier, contemporary and subsequent Islamic as well as non-Islamic courts.

Delia Cortese is Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies at Middlesex University.
Author of Arabic Ismaili Manuscripts (I. B. Tauris, 2002), Ismaili and Other Arabic Manuscripts (I. B. Tauris, 2000) and (with Simonetta Calderini) Mauritania (Clio Press, 1992).

Highly informative on the Fatimid state and society and the position of women in it.
Muslim World Book Review - Muhammad Abdul Jabbar Beg

To be welcomed as [a] very valuable contribution to the study of the period considered and, moreover, can be highly recommended to anyone interested in Middle Eastern or general history, be it social, religious or cultural.
Bibliotheca Orientalis

It is the best and fullest treatment of women of any Muslim dynasty.
Professor Yaacov Lev, Israel

This book reflects a major contribution to the field of Ismaili studies, dealing with a hitherto neglected area… [the authors] write in a highly accessible style without compromising academic standards.
Dr Farhad Daftary, London

A gender historian's dream come true … I strongly recommend Women and the Fatimids in the World of Islam to scholars and students of the Middle East of all levels and to gender and medieval historians in general.

A gender historian's dream come true. Its ambitiously wide scope, covering women's active participation in the Ismaili mission and political life, their family ties to the Fatimids and their subsidiary states, and their daily life inside and outside the royal palace might explain the eleven years spent researching this book. The authors cover practically the entire historical and literary (and to a lesser extent religious) published output pertaining to the Fatimids … The authors continuously provide necessary historical and religious background, making their book accessible to readers unfamiliar with Fatimid history and doctrines … I strongly recommend Women and the Fatimids in the World of Islam to scholars and students of the Middle East of all levels and to gender and medieval historians in general.