When Lisa Najeeb Halaby was twenty-six, her father introduced her to King Hussein of Jordan. Within a year, she became his fourth wife. Born in 1951 to a distinguished Arab-American family, Lisa was unsure what her role would be. King Hussein was not only the head of state in Jordan, but also considered the spiritual leader of all Muslims. This memoir provides a vital perspective on thirty years of turbulent world history from the Arab point of view: the displacement of over one million Palestinians by the creation of Israel, Hussein’s frustrating efforts for peace, and the impact of Saddam Hussein and the Gulf War on Jordan and the royal family. A fascinating and dramatic portrait of a woman who took a great risk in a part of the world where women’s roles are narrowly defined.
“Her pleasing memoir ends with the king’s death after his struggle with cancer, although readers may suspect that this smart, courageous woman will remain a world presence for years to come.”--Publishers Weekly
