Shah of Shahs (Penguin Classics) |
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Ryszard Kapuscinski
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Pages: 176 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0141188049
Pub: Penguin Classics
Pub date: 2006-06-01
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 42353
Reader Reviews:
Compelling account of troubled times (1/1 people found this helpful)
Having met several Iranians who left Tehran when the Shah was deposed I still knew very little about the politics and history of the country. Kapuschinski is brilliant at evoking the fear and suspicion engendered in the days of the Shah and the almost total disconnect between the ruling elite and the people. He also writes exceptionally well. It is a very effective writing tool that he uses; focusing right in on individual expressions and moments in time that dramatise and illuminate the entire political structure. Kapuschinski is a thoughtful, poetic and brave writer.
Good (1/1 people found this helpful)
Very good book. You hear a lot written about Iran, and it often focuses on post-revolution times, often drawing comparisons with the comparatively liberal attitudes of pre-revolutionary Iranians. This good gives a quick insight to the regime that existed for much of the 20th century, and exposes the wickedness and ignorance of the Shah.
Recent history writtern concisely (1/1 people found this helpful)
I knew nothing of Iranian history other than the relatively recent revolution by islamic fundamentalists. This book by my favourite roving reporter gives concise and detailed information about the story of the last 80 years or so of rule by the Shah and his father Reza Shah. I am sure my Iranian friends would deny any of this and would swear that their beloved Excellency The Shah of Iran has been maligned, but the facts stated would give good reason for the popular revolution that have been so disasterous for this country. The British interference is a disgrace, if it is true, as there was at one point a chance of democracy and prosperity for the people of Iran if only the Brits had not been so covetous of the oil reserves there, which in reality should have benefited the indigenous people and not the Billionaire Shah or the exploration companies. Although 20 years old this book is controversial but probably a very good statement of real facts surrounding a privaliged person who was incompetant, greedy, a playboy and ultimately a despot.
the last shah (1/1 people found this helpful)
I had always admired the the last Shah of Iran until I read this book. Kapuscinski offers a great insight to the grip of power the Shah had in Iran and causes for his downfall. The author also gives indications as to how the Iranian revolution did not bring change for the better. I highly recommed this excellent read, you wont be able to put it down
light on revolutions (3/4 people found this helpful)
In one hundred pages and in a very smart and subtle way Kapuscinski writes about the Shah, the people of Iran and the Revolution. But this is not a book about politics, it tells small stories of a big drama, it is about the vanity of the emperor, the fanatism of religion or the life of ordinary people. I would compare this book to Orwell's Animal Farm. It is full of commne sense and making evident the real implications that absolutism of any kind has on people. This was my first book of Kapuscinski and I was impressed by his enlightment and his writing. Starting with a photograph, an article on a newspaper or a simple walk in Teheran, the history of Iran comes out. A masterpiece.
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