Married By Force
By (Author) . Leila
Little, Brown Book Group
Piatkus Books
7th June 2007
United Kingdom
General
Non Fiction
Sociology: family and relationships
Ethnic studies
306.82088297092
Paperback
256
Width 201mm, Height 157mm, Spine 18mm
214g
A devastating first-hand testimony exposing the cruel and widespread practice of forced marriage.
'I was twenty years old and dreamed of marrying for love.'Leila was born and brought up in France by Moroccan-born parents. But her romantic dreams were shattered when she was forced by her father to marry a man she'd never met, fifteen years older than her, and whose language she couldn't understand.The husband she didn't love beat her regularly in an attempt to force her into submission. But, with extraordinary courage, Leila fought back against the weight of family tradition to regain her liberty and dignity; and though it put her life in danger, she left her husband and later divorced him."'An excellent read, relaying the feelings and experiences of the author in a moving manner' Western Daily Press"
Leila is now 29 years old, and lives with her young son in Paris. She speaks out frequently in the media against the evils of forced marriage; but still prefers not to reveal her surname, to avoid causing her family further shame. The book was first published in France, where it caused a storm of controversy.