Women Without Men is a novella of interwoven stories. Through an intricate, multivoice narrative, Shahrnush Parsipur portrays women and gender relations in a challenging subtext. Five women set out to escape the oppressive restrictions of family and social life in contemporary Iran. A prostitute, a wealthy, middle-aged housewife, two desperate maids, and a woman whose career ended after her boss asked her out share a common quest for independence that may be fulfilled in a garden villa. Through murder, suicide, and even rape, as well as love, contemplation, and spiritual transformation, these women escape the narrow confines of family and society, only to face new challenges. Parsipur's wry and sensitive narrative portrays each woman's struggle to articulate her needs and desires. She combines the Persian, Islamic, and mystical significance of the garden with the complex, evolving heritage of women's literature.