One can only marvel: Until modern times, one searches in vain for such lines penned by women in Europe. Stefan Weidner, NZZ. From the surprisingly liberal erotic verse of the 7th century to contemporary poems about war, flight, and exile: This bilingual collection offers remarkable insights into the self-perception of Arab female poets. Over fifty authors craft a female identity beyond all taboos and restrictions of thought, contributing poetically to the debate on Islam. The view of Arab tradition is still shaped by stereotypes today. This book encourages a nuanced perspective and presents Arabic literature from an unusual, specifically female viewpoint. The collection impressively demonstrates that the magnificent Arab poetic tradition is not solely the domain of men - and refutes this notion.