Reviews
Beautifully written, intelligent and insightful, the memoirs of Farah Diba Pahlavi open a window on the life of one of the great women of our time and offer a unique perspective on the extraordinary country over which she and her husband reigned before darkness fell. Bob Colacello, writer and editor, Interview magazine Here is that rare thing: an important historical document, opening a window onto imperial Iran, which reads with the warmth and sagacity of a fairy tale, as a monarch picks a young woman to become his empress. Alastair Sooke, art critic and broadcaster, BBC Empress Farah, in a few words, is the essence of compassion, duty and dignity. She has left an incredible and lasting legacy which lives on, even with generations who were not born during her reign! Tina Ghazimorad, producer and presenter, Manoto TV Empress Farah Pahlavi is one of the most interesting women of the 20th century, and has led a life that could have come from the ancient annals of history. Married to the Shah of Persia at the age of 21 she assumed at once, what Queen Elizabeth II described, as 'the heavy obligations of monarchy.' She produced a son and heir and, between 1959 and 1978, dedicated her life to the service of her country, particularly in the realms of health, education and culture. In this remarkable book she tells a story that will dazzle and fascinate a new generation of readers. Her dedication and dignity shine through every page. Hugo Vickers She was the nicest Empress that I have ever met! David Bailey, CBE "One of the most impressive women one could ever meet, with a spellbinding story and a bravery and resilience that defies belief." Celia Walden, Editor-at-Large, Daily Telegraph