Lewis' extensive exploration of the writings of early 20th-century Ottoman women goes a long way to correct the stereotype of the subjugated, silenced women of the harem. Lewis (cultural studies, U. of East London) shows how the writings of Demetra Vaka Brown, Halide Edib, Zeyneb Hanim, Melek Hanim and Grace Ellison participated in a social and textual dialogue with Western women and, consequently, were important to regional modernization. Lewis concludes with observations about the obsession with veiled women that continues to the present day. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)