Covering the Moon: An Introduction to Middle Eastern Face Veils

This book is a wonderful introduction to face coverings in North Africa and the Middle East and some other parts of Dar al-Islam. I am especially interested in the early and late medieval periods and found this book very helpful in expanding my understanding.

Billed as an introduction to face veils, this book is actually very thorough in its discussion of the subject. It incorporates historical drawings, pattern drawings, as well as photos of veils, and of women wearing veils of various types. This book is a must read for the scholar, as well as the costumer. However, I do have one criticism. In the introduction to the chapter on the Maghreb, the authors give a brief historical overview of Muslim Spain, which was called al-Andalus. The authors are mistaken in assuming that the extent of al-Andalus was the same as present day Andalusia, namely southern Spain. Such was not the case. Al-Andalus was the name applied to the entire Iberian Peninsula, under the Muslims. The Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula began in 711 C.E., and by 750 C.E., they controled nearly all of the Iberian Peninsula. Only Galicia, in the far north was not under Muslim control. Muslim control extended over the Pyrenees, and across southern France. The Muslim advance had only been curtailed by the Battle of Poitiers in 732 C.E., in which the Muslims were defeated by Christian armies. By 1000 C.E., the Muslims had retreated from France, and about 1/4 of Spain and 1/3 of Portugal had been reconquered by the Christians. However, this left 3/4 of Spain and 2/3 of Portugal still constituting al-Andalus. The authors mention only the rule of Abd al-Rahman III (912-961 C.E.). The Emirate had been proclaimed in 756 C.E., by Abd al-Rahman, and endured until 961 C.E.. The Reconquista (Reconquest) continued over the years, until the fall of Kingdom of Granada in 1492. I am surprised that the authors of such a scholarly book would not have checked their history sources as carefully, as their garment sources.

Demystifying head coverings, an excellent book. I had the privilege to take a course by Dr. Vogelsand-Eastwood. An amazing women and excellent teacher. If you have a chance to take any of her courses at the TRC (Textiel Research Center) in Leiden, The Netherlands it is must do for those interested in world history.

A very thorough review of face veiling across the Muslim world, as well as some Christian and Jewish veiling. Best of all it is full of photographs, maps, diagrams,etc. I really enjoyed Yedida Stillman's Arab Dress, but wished her book had better images and historical depictions. You will be amazed by the diversity veiling.