Product Description

When Fatima Shihabi, an Iraqi poet and journalist, learns she is marked for death by Saddam Hussein's secret police, she flees Iraq, evading Saddam's helicopters hunting her in the desert, only to discover that no other country will grant her asylum. Her flight from Saddam's vengeance, and the extraordinary efforts of Charles Sherman, a Wall Street lawyer, to save her life, is the subject of this gripping novel, inspired by a true story. How Fatima and Charles, bound by their common humanity, love for each other, and fate, manage to thwart Saddam and achieve redemption sends a powerful message to the post-9/11 world. Their story points the way toward eventual reconciliation and synthesis between Islam and the West. D.J. Murphy is a retired international lawyer, whose practice included representation of refugees seeking asylum in the United States. The author contributes ten percent (10%) of net royalties derived from this book to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #440792 in Books
• Published on: 2008-01-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

Customer Reviews

LIFTING THE VEIL
With A Thousand Veils, D. J. Murphy provides us with a stunning scenario that allows us to occupy a front row seat as the life of Fatima Shihabi, poet-journalist and reluctant dissident unfolds. Witness to the oppression of her fellow countrymen and personal victim of Saddam's secret police, Fatima knows that she a marked woman. Should she abandon her child, place her family in jeopardy and flee her country in order to save herself? Once safe, how will she be able to rescue her daughter? Can her brother, Omar, a U.S citizen and professor at Columbia University obtain the help she so desperately needs? A multitude of questions, all requiring answers.

Eventually Fatima concludes that she must temporarily abandon her daughter, and flee her homeland to seek asylum, something most countries are hesitant, if not unwilling, to grant an Iraqi citizen in the politically charged atmosphere of a post 9-11 world. Enter Charles Sherman, high powered New York attorney and a man intensely haunted by the memory of a fateful September morning. His mission: to navigate the bureaucratic waters of international law and find a country in the world willing to provide sanctuary to this woman and, ultimately, to assist her in the rescue of her child .

So begins this powerful and enlightening account of a man and a woman, separated by cultural, historical and religious differences, who, through a sharing of their painful life experiences learn to put aside individual prejudices and beliefs and come to appreciate and accept each other as they work together to achieve their common goal.

This fictionalized account is based upon actual events and provides the reader with a new perspective of not only the violence in the Middle East and the events that are daily shaping our ever changing world, but also furnishes insight into the knowledge and persistence required to navigate the paperwork maze called political asylum.

It is obvious that Mr. Murphy has drawn on his legal expertise and personal experience as a human rights lawyer as he adroitly leads us through this explosive political minefield of a tale; the culmination of which leave us with an unsettling and incontrovertible understanding that freedom comes at a substantial cost, and not all of that cost is monetary in nature. A solid 4 1/2 stars.

A gripping, timely tale! My pick for best debut novel so far in 2008.
Right up front, I'd like to say that if there were more than five stars this is one of the rare books I would give them to! It's fabulous! I kid you not!

Author D. J. Murphy has written the best debut novel I've read so far in 2008. Set in 2002, A Thousand Veils is a timely book about Fatima Shihabi, an Iraqi poet and journalist who has been marked for death by Saddam Hussein's secret police. Having had a happy childhood with good parents and adoring brothers, Fatima has always been independent and grows to hold strong opinions about women's rights ... which gets her into trouble on more than one occasion in a society that suppresses women.

Fatima is forced to marry a sadistic older man who beats and abuses her, ultimately divorcing her when she gives birth to a girl instead of the son he so desperately wants. During the marriage, her only solace is writing poetry. Ironically, the divorce frees her.

One of her beloved brothers helps her enter the university where her writing catches the eye of teachers who encourage her to publish some articles abroad, under a pseudonym. Her free-thinking writing is the initial cause of her troubles.

At one time, Hussein's police arrest and torture her, but finally release her. Many women revere her for her writing and many kindnesses to them, so one of them alerts her that they are coming to arrest her again. With help from underground acquaintances, this brave, determined woman escapes the country. Getting out is an emotional as well as physical ordeal because she is forced to leave her young daughter behind.

What does she do when no country is willing to accept her? Why isn't she allowed to go to her older brother in the United States? Does she ever get her daughter back? What happens when the brother finally catches the attention of Charles Sherman, a Wall Street lawyer with Iraqi connections. And how does Charles at last break through the wall of resistance on her behalf, then insist on meeting her in Paris.

A bond develops between them and Charles defies all odds to keep Fatima safe. Could it be love in bloom? Well, you'll have to read for yourself to find out more.

This is a high-drama story filled with intrigue of the highest degree, depravity beyond human comprehension, kindness born of desperation, of love beyond measure. A story of a resourceful Iraqi woman and a determined American lawyer, bound by their common humanity. A gripping story that will enthrall you from beginning to end.

Author D. J. Murphy writes with a powerful voice that resonates with authenticity. His style is smooth and seemingly effortless, making me feel as though I were there with the characters as they move from one exciting locale to another: Saudi Arabia, Baghdad, the French Alps, New York, Paris. The book's authenticity is partly because Murphy is a retired International lawyer whose practice included representation of refugees seeking asylum in the United States, partly because Murphy interviewed many refugees and was inspired by a true story.

End note: Although a completely different story, this book reminds me of my choice for debut novel of 2006, Echoes from the Infantry: A Novel by Frank Nappi, a school teacher from Long Island. Nappi interviewed U.S. veterans from World War II for his story about the aftermath of war on the families of service people.

Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, 2008
Author of: 1106 Grand Boulevard

Gimme Shelter
This is a fascinating story which, according to the author, is based on real events. It takes place just after the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York and just before the American invasion of Iraq.

It tells the story of Fatima Shihabi, a strong-willed Muslim woman who is a poet and journalist in Iraq. Passionate about societal wrongs and the rights of women in her country, she writes articles that praise the regime, but with strong underlying messages that eventually get her on the wrong side of Saddam Hussein's son Uday. She survives only because of the strong political connections of one of her brothers, but continues to tell it like it is for an underground publication. When information about weapons of mass destruction falls into her lap she quickly destroys the evidence, but by then the secret police are on to her, and she has to flee the country.

The trouble is, no country will take her, and certain death awaits her in Iraq.

Charles Sherman is a Wall Street lawyer who specializes in mergers and acquisitions. He is a workaholic, and although he is involved with a beautiful and intelligent woman, he seldom makes the time to devote to their relationship. When his boss asks him to save Fatima's life, he is reluctant at first, but after speaking with another of her brothers (now an American citizen) and pulling a few diplomatic strings, he becomes deeply involved in her situation.

After introducing both main characters, the rest of the book is about their emotional first meeting, and the friendship that evolves while they try to stay ahead of the secret police, whose members are a lot more resourceful than they had initially thought.

This book is not only an emotional story of human interaction, but a behind the scenes look at the changes in international relations post 9/11, especially as in affects persons from Arab countries seeking asylum. Although the dialogue is a little stilted in places, this is a book you won't be able to put down until you turn the last page.

Rated: 4.5 stars



Amanda Richards, April 20, 2008