Zahra Hankir, a Lebanese British journalist and the editor of Our
Women on the Ground, writes about the intersection of politics,
culture and society. Her work has appeared in publications
including Conde Nast Traveller, the Observer, Times Literary
Supplement, BBC News, Al Jazeera English, Bloomberg Businessweek,
the Los Angeles Times, and The Rumpus. She was awarded a Jack R.
Howard Fellowship in International Journalism to attend the
Columbia Journalism School and holds degrees in politics and Middle
Eastern studies.
@zahrahankir, zahrahankir.com
Cosmetic, tool of rebellion, status signifier: Eyeliner has been
all these and more. Moving through millenniums and across
civilizations, Hankir gives the makeup its eye-opening due
*New York Times Book Review*
A beautifully written deep dive into something that so many of us
use on a daily basis with little to no thought. You will never use
an eyeliner in the same way again
*Glamour*
Hankir makes a compelling case that, far from an inconsequential
vanity, eyeliner is not just about beautification but protection,
and even politics, for men and women across the world and through
the ages
*New Statesman*
Fascinating . . . In my line of business (being Miss Universe),
eyeliner is more than an item in a makeup kit—it’s part of an
artistic palette. This simple tool gives us the power to command a
room, to make a personality statement, and to change our entire
look on a whim. As Zahra Hankir shows, none of this is new or even
modern, but has been part of a legacy of powerful women for
millennia
*CNN's Best Books of 2023*
A beautiful read, a thought-provoking one, and, unlike many history
books - endlessly entertaining
*Bad Form, Hardback of the Month*
An interesting perspective on a seldom-explored area of cultural
history… thought-provoking
*i*
Engrossing… Hankir’s history lessons are peppered with cultural
references and good humor. The book is a smoky-eye lover’s
paradise
*New York Times Book Review*
Who knew the humble eyeliner could offer up so much? Hankir’s
beautiful writing style and incredible attention to detail mean
that even those with zero interest in makeup will find this book
awe-inspiring and fascinating as it goes far beyond the realms of
beauty.
*Funmi Fetto, author of PALETTE, Contributing Beauty Editor at
British Vogue and Beauty Director at the Observer *
Hankir delves into the political contexts that inform our make-up
choices... Eyeliner is a comprehensive account of how this age-old
medium became a means for connection, communication and
rebellion
*Dazed*
I loved Eyeliner. Hankir approaches her subject with dedicated
curiosity, humility and humour, blending anthropology, travel,
memoir and history. A treat to read and - of course - beautifully
eye-opening.
*Kassia St Clair, author of THE SECRET LIVES OF COLOUR*
Captivating... An arresting feminist narrative from start to
finish, this book reveals the depth and multi-dimensionality of a
cosmetic that connects Queen Nefertiti to young women protesting in
contemporary Iran.
*Rafia Zakaria, author of AGAINST WHITE FEMINISM*
Combining the steady contemplation of the personal essay with her
journalistic flair for storytelling, Zahra Hankir traces the
history of kohl, traversing space, time and cultures to delve into
the deeply human importance of a makeup kit staple many of us don't
give a second thought. An engaging read that is poignant,
enlightening, and full of emotional depth.
*Layla AlAmmar, author of SILENCE IS A SENSE*
Intriguing . . . [Hankir] uses this ancient form of makeup as an
ingenious prism through which to explore cultural identity.
*The Bookseller, Editor's Choice*
A fascinating history . . . If you've never given much thought to
the beauty staple, Eyeliner will change that forever.
*Town & Country*
Absorbing . . . Hankir provides an engaging, colorful study while
relating her own cross-cultural story.
*Kirkus*
Captivating . . . Hankir packs her reader-friendly narrative with
relatable examples of cultural and geographic significance.
*Publishers Weekly*
Hankir disrupts many deeply held assumptions about beauty, gender,
and power . . . Hankir writes with boldness and care . . . [she]
meticulously details commonalities in physical and aesthetic
practices [...] without losing sight of cultural specificity or
intersectionality.
*Library Journal*
An impressive, rigorously researched, winding path through
centuries and over continents
*NPR*
[Eyeliner] artfully blend[s] a history of the eye cosmetic with an
emotive treatment of makeup’s relation to the self . . . a
thoughtful, unlikely romp across the world, viewing a small but
significant part of cultural history, through a keen (and boldly
defined) eye
*Wall Street Journal*
A marvel . . . [Hankir] goes back in time, around the globe and
into her own past, painting a picture that not only resituates
eyeliner in the cultural imaginary but celebrates the myriad
contributions of communities of color to beauty history
*Culture Study*
Hankir does a spectacular job of raising the stakes and setting up
eyeliner as this culturally powerful and iconic practice, all tied
back on Nefertiti…a book that succeeds in telling, if not one
story, then many stories, about a utilitarian, symbolic, and
essential practice that transcends cultures around the world
*Chicago Review of Books*
A narrative that, fittingly, bypasses dominant Western discourses
of makeup and fashion, which is part of what makes this work so
refreshing to read . . . This book demonstrates that eyeliner is
not simply a frivolous decoration; it connects back to a much
larger story
*4Columns*
Readers will never think of eyeliner the same way after reading
this book . . . [Eyeliner] has a richer and sometimes stranger
history than many people (including me) would have guessed . . .
endlessly fascinating
*Electric Literature*
An intriguing journey through time and across continents . . .
[Hankir] travels far in pursuit of her research, expressing a
contagious wonder at the layers of common ground a simple object
like eyeliner offers people of diverse backgrounds . . . Eyeliner
features a particularly dazzling chapter on the late Amy Winehouse
. . . [A] well-written, absorbing debut
*Shelf Awareness*
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