Soheir Khashoggi (Arabic: سهير خاشقجي, born 1947) is an Egyptian-born Saudi Arabian novelist and fine artist. She is a member of one of Saudi Arabia's most prominent families and is known for her novels that explore the lives and struggles of women in Arab society.
Life
Khashoggi was born in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1947. Her father, Muhammad Khashoggi, was of Turkish origin and served as the personal physician to King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The family surname, Khashoggi, derives from the Turkish word Kaşıkçı, meaning "spoon maker." Her brother was the renowned arms dealer and billionaire Adnan Khashoggi. She is also related to the late journalist Jamal Khashoggi (her nephew) and Dodi Fayed (her nephew).
She attended the American University of Beirut and also earned a degree from Beirut's Interior Design Center. By the age of 14, she was fluent in Arabic, English, and French, and was recognized as an accomplished artist, winning prizes for her short stories, drawings, and paintings during her teenage years.
Khashoggi married a Lebanese doctor around 1972 (later divorced) and later married a Lebanese businessman around 1979 (divorced in 1989). She has four daughters. She currently resides in New York City.
Career
Khashoggi's first novel, Mirage, was published in 1996 in nineteen languages. She has since published two additional novels. Her works have been noted for bringing attention to the challenges faced by women in the Arab world, and she has participated in conferences worldwide, including speaking at the international Women's World Forum Against Violence, an organization founded by Queen Sofia of Spain.
However, her books have also drawn criticism. Academic Layla Al Maleh has argued that Khashoggi's novels reinforce American stereotypical views of Muslims and Arab men, depicting male characters who expect respect and oppressed female characters who resist yet ultimately accept their position within melodramatic narratives.
Works
- Mirage (1999) – Her debut novel, published in nineteen languages.
- Nadia's Song (2002)
- Mosaic (2002)
In addition to writing, Khashoggi is a practicing fine artist who sells original paintings and portraits.
References
- Kessler, Ronald (1987), Khashoggi: the rise and fall of the world's richest man, Corgi, p. 41, ISBN 978-0552130608
- Soheir Khashoggi, Goodreads
- Soheir Khashoggi, Interview with Rebecca Ponton
- Maleh, Layla Al (2009). Arab Voices in Diaspora: Critical Perspectives on Anglophone Arab Literature. Rodopi. ISBN 978-90-420-2718-3
