One Woman's War

About “One Woman's War”

"One Woman's War (Da)" is a blend of autobiography and oral history that recounts the experiences of Zahra Hoseyni, a seyyedeh, or descendant of the Prophet Mohammad. Born to a Kurdish family that fled Iraq and settled in Iran, the book details her early life, her family's struggles in Khorramshahr, and her role during the Iran-Iraq War. The second part of the book covers her experiences during the first three weeks of the war, including her work as a body parts collector, a nurse, and a combatant defending Khorramshahr. The final section describes her recovery from war injuries and her life after marriage, split between a suburban home near the front and an apartment in Tehran.