The author is a leading Egyptian feminist, socialist, physician, and novelist who has been active in promoting women's rights and mobilizing women in the Middle East. She was the Director General of Health and Education in Cairo before she was dismissed from her position. She began writing this memoir in her mind during her incarceration. Her narrative focuses on women's issues and activities and how secular intellectuals and Islamic revivalists developed alliances as political prisoners to demand better prison conditions and deal with prison conditions. After leaving prison she was under armed guard 24 hours a day. She founded the Arab Women Solidarity Association; the government issued an order to close the organization in July 1991. She now lives outside her homeland.