Super Short Summary

First published in 1994, Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood is Fatema Mernissi’s memoir of growing up in a harem in 1940s Fez, Morocco. The book, told through a series of reflections and recollections, explores young Fatema's efforts to understand the concept of a harem amid political upheaval and restricted freedoms, and her aspiration for a world without the separation of men and women. The narrative addresses themes related to gender roles, cultural traditions, and the struggle for women’s rights.