Behind Closed Doors

Tunis has a long history of city life reaching back to ancient times. The Arabic language is firmly rooted among it inhabitants and most embrace the morals and culture of Islam. Behind Closed Doors presents forty-seven tales told by three Beldi women, members of a historic and highly civilized community, the city's traditional elite. Tale-telling is important to all Beldi women, and this book examines its role in their shared world and its significance in the lives of the three tellers. Tales are told at communal gatherings to share and pass on Beldi women's secret lore of love, marriage, and destiny. Ghaya, Sa'diyya, and Kheira tell stories which echo their life experience and have deep meaning for them. Their tales reflect accepted moral codes, and yet many depict attitudes, relationships, and practices that contradict established norms. Whereas Kheira presents a conservative and moralistic view of the role of women, Sa'diyya's heroines are alive with sexual energy, and Ghaya's stories also offer racy and rebellious comments on a woman's lot. These contradictory visions offer a kaleidoscopic view of the position of women in the rich life of a historic North African city. Monia Hejaiej has written an eloquent introduction to the volume, providing an overview of the history and culture of Tunis and insights into the reading of the tales. Monia Hejaiej was born in 1957 in Tunis. She obtained her doctorate at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and now teaches literature at the University of Tunis.