Land Without Hats

Julie Mughal has written a moving, compassionate and eloquent book that is ultimately about the strength of the human spirit, even when confronted with unimaginable adversity. It is especially about the strength of wives and mothers who struggle through their own grief and deprivation to see that their fatherless children continue to have hope for a brighter future. Only someone who has experienced this reality in her own life could have the understanding that makes these stories so illuminating. In spite of the many different ways societies support or oppress the widows in their midst, Land Without Hats is ultimately another reminder that the devotion of mothers to their children supersedes all boundaries and helps us "bear unbearable sorrow."

Dr. Charles MacCormack, President, Save the Children
Julie Mughal's story of her own grief and renewal woven into the stories of widows' severe losses and hardships gives a voice to widows worldwide. Too often, widows and their children are swept away by the culture of neglect and abuse and Land Without Hats can only help to support their collective struggles. Her book is a call to widows of the world to come together to create change and hope for all.
AnnMarie Ginella, founder of WidowSpeak
This global tour of grief shimmers with the beauty of the infinite differences among cultural traditions. At the same time it offers comfort through the shared familiarity of human loss. It's a lovely tribute to widows and the men they mourn in every part of the globe.
Suzanne Fisher Staples, author of Shabanu Daughter of the Wind
Julie Mughal has written a stirring book, one that will touch the heart of anyone who knows what it feels like to suffer a shattering loss. She began this project as a way to make sense of the sudden death of her husband, but what she has produced is nothing less than a testament to the plight of widows and their children in some of the most desolate and dangerous parts of the world. The women whose stories Mughal brings us have survived hardships that will be all but unimaginable to many readers. But survive they have. And that, ultimately is the message of this heartfelt and deeply moving book.

Phyllis Kosminsky, PhD, author of Getting Back to Life When Grief Won't Heal
Unseen and unheard, widows in many countries still suffer appalling treatment because of traditional practices. They and their children are often forced into poverty at a time when they are most vulnerable. This book is a timely call for action to alleviate this fundamental breach of human rights.

Patsy Robertson, Chair of
Widows' Rights International.