Review by Choice Review
Axworthy combines his very impressive academic credentials (Arab and Islamic studies, Univ. of Exeter) and his many years of diplomatic experience in the British Foreign Service (and the Head of the Iran Section) to guide readers through the dramatic history of the Iranian nation--tragic and brutal at times and often heroic. His analysis of events, particularly since the beginning of the rule of the Qajar dynasty (at the end of the 18th century) to the present time, is refreshingly informative and objective. This is what distinguishes this study from most others. There has been, unfortunately, little unbiased and solidly scholarly coverage of the history of Iran in modern times. Axworthy's portrayals of and commentaries on the rule of the Pahlavi Shahs and the leaders of the Islamic Republic that followed are superb. This remarkable work should be on the reading list of any serious student of Iranian history and culture. Summing Up: Essential. All levels/libraries. N. Rassekh Lewis and Clark College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
The peoples of the Iranian plateau have a written history of at least 2,500 years. The Persian Empire extended from Egypt to northern India, and the influence of the Persian language, literature, and architectural styles is still evident across western and central Asia. Unfortunately, most Americans view Iran today through the prism of staged anti-American demonstrations and the rantings of their current president. Axworthy, Honorary Fellow at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter in England, has provided a valuable counterpoint to those distorted impressions. He has written a compact but still inclusive narrative account that conveys both the diversity and richness of the various empires and cultural forces that have shaped the Iranian people. He offers fascinating insights into the political developments in the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sassamid or Sassanid? empires, and his efforts to illustrate how Iranians adopted Islam while resisting the Arabization of their culture is provocative. This is an excellent examination of the forging of a people who are poised to, once again, play a prominent role in world affairs.--Freeman, Jay Copyright 2008 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Sweeping, sensitive and evenhanded overview of the ancient nation, from the days of the prophet Zoroaster to those of the Islamic Republic. Former British foreign-service officer and Iranian historian Axworthy (The Sword of Persia: Nader Shah, from Tribal Warrior to Conquering Tyrant, 2006) covers an enormous amount of material in elegant, upbeat fashion. Aware of the country's accomplishments without being blind to its failings, he emphasizes Iran's diversity, noting that nearly half the population is made up of ethnic Azeris, Kurds, Gilakis, Buluchis and Turkmen, and that its native tongue, Farsi, is the sole Indo-European language in the Arab-speaking Middle East. Called Persia until the Reza Shah promoted an official name change in 1935, the nation formed its identity from nomadic migrations imbued with the spirit of Zoroastrianism. This early form of monotheism offered a new concept of heaven and hell, and of the free human choice between good and evil, that exerted a huge influence on later religions, Axworthy asserts. In the sixth century BCE, tribes coalesced around the first royal house, founded by Cyrus and extended by his conquering descendants, Darius et al. The empire's magnificent capital, Persepolis, was burned by the victorious Alexander the Great in 330 BCE. Successive dynasties jockeyed for power and battled with the Roman Empire, while Persian poets created such heroic works as Ferdowsi's Shahnameh ("The Epic of Kings"), as significant to Iranian culture as Shakespeare is to the West. Islamic incursion occurred gradually, and Axworthy cogently dissects the Sunni/Shi'a schism that roils Islam today. His wide-ranging, in-depth knowledge of the Middle East enriches his analysis of the Pahlavi dynasty and the revolution of 1979. "The deeper, reflective, humane Iran is still there beneath the threatening media headlines," he opines, and its citizens are gearing up for a more significant role in the world community. Axworthy's reasoned survey will be especially helpful to lay readers and students of Arab history. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
