In this study of women in wealthy households in Cairo, Fay (history, Morgan State University) shows that some Middle Eastern women were able to become property owners under Islamic law and to achieve economic, social, and political influence during the Mamluk revival period. After an overview of harem history and the history of the Mamluk revival, the rest of the book follows the stages of a woman's life and the transitions she makes as she becomes integrated into the household as a concubine or wife. The author describes how elite women gained power from their own wealth, from their control over others' property as administrators of religious endowments, and from their role in the kinship construction of the Mamluks. She also highlights the architecture of seclusion, with b&w photos of women's spaces. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)