In the context of the many times that Qatar has faced invasions and women's important support role in thwarting them, Sonbol (history, Georgetown U., Washington, DC) redresses this lack of documentation and accounts from Western perspectives in this collection of essays. Scholars discuss Gulf women's contributions from pre-Islamic to modern times (e.g., as businesswomen, poets, midwives), and dispel stereotypes about the monolithic nature of Arab attitudes and modern Shar'ia family law in regard to women. Includes a glossary. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)