Open AccessSad Hareems. The Example of the Countess the Gasparin (À Constantinople, 1867) in Light of the Tradition of Female Travellers in the East
Author(s) -
Sarga Moussa
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
viatica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2275-0827
DOI - 10.52497/viatica1011
Subject(s) - harem , favourite , orient , context (archaeology) , middle east , humanities , art , ethnology , history , philosophy , far east , archaeology , theology , evolutionary biology , biology
The article examines the Countess of Gasparin’s book À Constantinople, published in 1867, in the light of a particular context and a tradition of women travellers in the East. Beginning with a description of the condition of women travellers in the East during 19th century, including several biographical elements surrounding Valérie Gasparin, the study concentrates on one of the favourite places of European travellers in the East: the hareem. The study highlights the work of the Countess on demystifying the hareem, her gendered anti-slavery discourse, as well as her determination to give Eastern women a voice.