The Favoured Daughter: One Woman's Fight to Lead Afghanistan into the Future by Fawzia Koofi with Nadine Ghouri

Fawzia Koofi is an Afghan politician, she is one of the first women politicians and her aim is to run for Presidency.  In The Favoured Daughter, Fawzia tells the story of her very difficult, dangerous journey through times of war, political unrest and incredible danger.  She is a woman who is brave, committed and loyal and her story is one that should inspire women all over the world.

Fawzia was her Father's nineteenth child, there were twenty-three in total.  Her mother was his second wife, one of seven and Fawzia was her last child.    When Fawzia was born she was abandoned by her mother, left out in the sun to die because she was not a boy.  That was the first time that she faced death and survived, many more times would follow throughout her life.   Despite their start in life, Fawzia and her Mother became inseparable and loved each other so much, her Mother couldn't read or write, yet instilled in her a great sense of justice and self-belief.

As the political climate in Afghanistan shifted, so did the plight of the women who lived there.  Fawzia's childhood is described with joy and full of love and family, but as the Taliban began to take over the country her life, and the lives of all Afghan women changed dramatically.  The country was at war and Fawzia saw loved ones murdered, was stopped from studying and lost her beloved Mother.    Despite this, she was determined that one day she would prove her Mother right and that she would enter politics, change life in Afghanistan and maybe, one day become President.

Fawzia tells her story in simple, yet incredibly emotive language.  The internal politics of Afghanistan are explained clearly.  The horrors of war, the discrimination, the tortures, the hate and also the love that makes this country what it is today and spurred Fawzia on are excellently portrayed, often harrowing but always vivid.   Fawzia is an inspirational woman, she is daughter, sister, wife and mother and takes each and every role so seriously, never giving up hope that one day, the country that she loves will return to peace.

A brave and inspiring lady, a beautifully written story.

The Favoured Daughter by Fawzia Koofi was published in hardback last year, the paperback version is released by Palgrave Macmillan on 14 May 2013.

My thanks to Katy from Palgrave who kindly sent my copy for review.

If you would like to find out more about Fawzia, and her support committee, there is a website here