Step 3 of 10

Memoiren einer Arabischen Prinzessin

Related Images

  • Fig. 1 - Covers of the first and second edition of “Memoiren einer Arabischen Prinzessin”. Corrections in the second edition by Salma and Rosalie - photo Cees de Jonge
  • Fig. 2 - Title pages of the first and second edition of “Memoiren einer Arabischen Prinzessin” - photo Cees de Jonge
  • Fig. 3 - Inside the the first and second edition of “Memoiren einer Arabischen Prinzessin” - photo Cees de Jonge

In 1886 Salme published “Memoiren einer arabischen Prinzessin” in Berlin. The reason to write this was, in her own words, to tell her children about her background but financial reasons were probably also behind this initiative. Until now her work is known as the earliest surviving published autobiography of an Arab woman.

The idealized description of her youth in Zanzibar became a bestseller. Her work was translated several times, and often edited to suit prevailing opinions. She tells in detail about the lively colorful family life and palace-politics in Zanzibar, and does not avoid comparisons between the east and the west about family life, women’s issues, slavery, religion and many more controversial issues. Her stance on slavery is especially difficult to understand for modern readers.

A second corrected edition was prepared by her and her daughter Rosalie, but the publication was never realized during her lifetime. Her great-great granddaughter Andrea Emily Stumpf published a new edition based on the original corrections and additions in 2022 where she discusses some of the outdated topics.