Features
- Cover Type: Paperback with 464 pages
- Published by: Plume April 1, 1998
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 0452275636
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-0452275638
-
Book Dimensions:
8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
- Weighs: 1.1 pounds
Product Review
The Iranians chronicles the history of the Iranian people, from the "glory days" of Persia to the overthrow of Mohammed Riza Shah and the rise of the Ayatollah Khomeini. Through many centuries, Islamic Iran fell repeatedly to invaders--Turks, Mongols, Afghans, Russians, and the British--only to spring back and reassert its cultural and spiritual autonomy while absorbing elements of other civilizations. But after the 1950s, rapid modernization disturbed every facet of Iranian life. Mackey shows how Iran's pendulum swung from nationalism to monarchism to rigid Shia fundamentalism, while also offering harsh judgment of Western attitudes and policies toward Iran.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
In an engrossing blend of history and reportage, Middle East expert Mackey (The Saudis) portrays a proud, anxious people caught between two interlocking traditions competing for the nation's soul. On the one hand, there is the legacy of ancient Persia, which brought forth Zoroastrianism with its belief in a supreme God, a philosophy of tolerance and justice, and awesome art; and on the other, there is the predominant Shiite Muslim religion, which mirrors Persian nonconformity in its schismatic break with Sunni orthodoxy, but which also galvanizes the masses with calls for an egalitarian society, retribution against the West and strict adherence to Islamic moral code. Shah Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, in her analysis, abandoned Islamic traditions and, wrapping himself in the cloak of kingship, pushed a shallow resurrection of the glories of ancient Persia. His fall in 1979 left the U.S. adrift in the crucial Persian Gulf; and contemporary Iran, with its ongoing military buildup, its opposition to the Israel-Arab peace process and its refusal to lift the death edict for Salman Rushdie, reinforces deep-rooted authoritarian traditions. Nevertheless, Mackey strongly urges the U.S. to replace its policy of isolation and embargo with reconciliation toward President Hashemi Rafsanjani and the moderate pragmatists he supposedly represents.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Reader ReviewsI started reading this book with an enormous amount of pleasure. At first I thought my God, this American woman has understood us Iranians better than we have understood ourselves. The chapter on Reza Shah I thought was spot on. Then there were a few minor mistakes, e.g. Mohammad Reza Shah dreaming Abbas Shah, should have been Hazrat Abbas, who is an entirely different character(pp254). This was not too important though and I think we can forgive a foreigner for that. As the history approached the 1979 uprisng, Khomeini's nationalism or his exploit of nationalism was mentioned too often. The book then describes his arrival and says(pp285) - 'As soon the aged Khomeini rose from his poignant act of kissing the Iranian soil...'! I can not remember him doing that but I think most Iranians would remember that he was asked on the plane by a journalist on how he feels returning back to his country after 15 years and he replied without any emotion 'Nothing' !. An important statement which is not mentioned in the book. Other examples I can give is how Sandra Mackey in her footnote on pp(286) says 'Shapur Bakhtiar was assassinated in Paris by unknown assailants...'. At this point I had to shelf the book. Perhaps she should have visited Vakili-rad and Hendi in the French jails, before France let Hendi go back to Iran, half way through his sentence in return for a petti contract. If I was to recommend the book, I would say read the first 200 pages or so, after that be careful of what information you are given.
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