Reviews
"Amanat is a skillful narrator whose use of sources and anecdotes is illuminating. His book should be read by anyone who is curious about the history of political philosophy and ideas."-- The Economist "A stately, scholarly study."-- Kirkus Reviews "Yale historian Amanat''s absorbing history takes readers from the battle'elds of Anatolia, where the Safavid dynasty rose through many vicissitudes, through to trysts with democratic experiments to the 1979 theocratic revolution ushered in by Ayatollah Khomeini."--Nayan Chanda, Global Asia Book Reviews "Navigating a history as rich and diverse - not to mention as violent and desperate - as that of Iran is no easy feat but Amanat succeeds in his task with aplomb. His route down this turbulent course is as thoroughly researched and painstakingly structured as it is fascinating."--John Burns, PopMatters.com "Iran is perhaps the most important poorly understood country in the world--too big and wealthy to ignore, too complex and dynamic to stereotype. Among this generation of historians of Iran, Abbas Amanat stands as a giant. He conveys his enormous learning in eloquent prose, retailing the country''s dramatic struggles and displaying gems of its intricate and profound culture with a contagious excitement. Those who wish to understand how an early modern Silk Road monarchy transformed into a contemporary petroleum-fueled theocracy will find no more informed or captivating guide."--Juan Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History and Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan "This sweeping but richly detailed text is an impressive treatment of the longue dur e of Iranian history since 1501. Amanat interweaves narrative with stimulating analysis and commentary on culture, society, and politics in Iran with a skill based on deep scholarship and understanding. It is rare to find a book that will be important for both those new to Iranian studies and those already in the field: the former will find the book an invaluable starting point, and the latter will gain much from engaging with Amanat''s creative and challenging insights and arguments."--Joanna de Groot, University of York "The appearance of this comprehensive and flowing narrative history of early modern and modern Iran could not be more timely, given the deep-seated misunderstandings and prejudices that persist regarding that country. Few scholars could be as well placed to write it as Abbas Amanat, who has devoted many decades to studying Iran''s history and culture. This is likely to remain a work of reference that can be appreciated by students as well as interested general readers. An impressive achievement!"--Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Distinguished Professor of History, UCLA "Lucid, readable, and erudite, Abbas Amanat''s flowing narrative uses comparisons and connections with the surrounding world to reveal the dialogical and often defensive character of Iran''s routes to modernity. Amanat highlights the heterogeneous groups and contending interests that shaped what he calls a ''Persianized version of modernity.'' Balancing analysis of changes in political economy with the roles of public religion and the persistence of cultural traditions, this is a compelling and comprehensive conspectus of Iranian history with a magisterial command of detail."--Nile Green, University of California, Los Angeles, "A stately, scholarly study."-- Kirkus Reviews "Yale historian Amanat's absorbing history takes readers from the battleFields of Anatolia, where the Safavid dynasty rose through many vicissitudes, through to trysts with democratic experiments to the 1979 theocratic revolution ushered in by Ayatollah Khomeini."--Nayan Chanda, Global Asia Book Reviews "Iran is perhaps the most important poorly understood country in the world--too big and wealthy to ignore, too complex and dynamic to stereotype. Among this generation of historians of Iran, Abbas Amanat stands as a giant. He conveys his enormous learning in eloquent prose, retailing the country's dramatic struggles and displaying gems of its intricate and profound culture with a contagious excitement. Those who wish to understand how an early modern Silk Road monarchy transformed into a contemporary petroleum-fueled theocracy will find no more informed or captivating guide."--Juan Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History and Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan "This sweeping but richly detailed text is an impressive treatment of the longue dur e of Iranian history since 1501. Amanat interweaves narrative with stimulating analysis and commentary on culture, society, and politics in Iran with a skill based on deep scholarship and understanding. It is rare to find a book that will be important for both those new to Iranian studies and those already in the field: the former will find the book an invaluable starting point, and the latter will gain much from engaging with Amanat's creative and challenging insights and arguments."--Joanna de Groot, University of York "The appearance of this comprehensive and flowing narrative history of early modern and modern Iran could not be more timely, given the deep-seated misunderstandings and prejudices that persist regarding that country. Few scholars could be as well placed to write it as Abbas Amanat, who has devoted many decades to studying Iran's history and culture. This is likely to remain a work of reference that can be appreciated by students as well as interested general readers. An impressive achievement!"--Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Distinguished Professor of History, UCLA "Lucid, readable, and erudite, Abbas Amanat's flowing narrative uses comparisons and connections with the surrounding world to reveal the dialogical and often defensive character of Iran's routes to modernity. Amanat highlights the heterogeneous groups and contending interests that shaped what he calls a 'Persianized version of modernity.' Balancing analysis of changes in political economy with the roles of public religion and the persistence of cultural traditions, this is a compelling and comprehensive conspectus of Iranian history with a magisterial command of detail."--Nile Green, University of California, Los Angeles, "Lucid, readable, and erudite, Abbas Amanat's flowing narrative uses comparisons and connections with the surrounding world to reveal the dialogical and often defensive character of Iran's routes to modernity. Amanat highlights the heterogeneous groups and contending interests that shaped what he calls a 'Persianized version of modernity.' Balancing analysis of changes in political economy with the roles of public religion and the persistence of cultural traditions, this is a compelling and comprehensive conspectus of Iranian history with a magisterial command of detail."--Nile Green, University of California, Los Angeles , "Amanat is a skillful narrator whose use of sources and anecdotes is illuminating. His book should be read by anyone who is curious about the history of political philosophy and ideas."-- The Economist "A stately, scholarly study."-- Kirkus Reviews "Yale historian Amanat's absorbing history takes readers from the battleFields of Anatolia, where the Safavid dynasty rose through many vicissitudes, through to trysts with democratic experiments to the 1979 theocratic revolution ushered in by Ayatollah Khomeini."--Nayan Chanda, Global Asia Book Reviews "Iran is perhaps the most important poorly understood country in the world--too big and wealthy to ignore, too complex and dynamic to stereotype. Among this generation of historians of Iran, Abbas Amanat stands as a giant. He conveys his enormous learning in eloquent prose, retailing the country's dramatic struggles and displaying gems of its intricate and profound culture with a contagious excitement. Those who wish to understand how an early modern Silk Road monarchy transformed into a contemporary petroleum-fueled theocracy will find no more informed or captivating guide."--Juan Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History and Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan "This sweeping but richly detailed text is an impressive treatment of the longue dur e of Iranian history since 1501. Amanat interweaves narrative with stimulating analysis and commentary on culture, society, and politics in Iran with a skill based on deep scholarship and understanding. It is rare to find a book that will be important for both those new to Iranian studies and those already in the field: the former will find the book an invaluable starting point, and the latter will gain much from engaging with Amanat's creative and challenging insights and arguments."--Joanna de Groot, University of York "The appearance of this comprehensive and flowing narrative history of early modern and modern Iran could not be more timely, given the deep-seated misunderstandings and prejudices that persist regarding that country. Few scholars could be as well placed to write it as Abbas Amanat, who has devoted many decades to studying Iran's history and culture. This is likely to remain a work of reference that can be appreciated by students as well as interested general readers. An impressive achievement!"--Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Distinguished Professor of History, UCLA "Lucid, readable, and erudite, Abbas Amanat's flowing narrative uses comparisons and connections with the surrounding world to reveal the dialogical and often defensive character of Iran's routes to modernity. Amanat highlights the heterogeneous groups and contending interests that shaped what he calls a 'Persianized version of modernity.' Balancing analysis of changes in political economy with the roles of public religion and the persistence of cultural traditions, this is a compelling and comprehensive conspectus of Iranian history with a magisterial command of detail."--Nile Green, University of California, Los Angeles, "Iran is perhaps the most important poorly-understood country in the world-- too big and wealthy to ignore, too complex and dynamic to stereotype. Among this generation of historians of Iran, Abbas Amanat stands as a giant. He conveys his enormous learning in eloquent prose, retailing the country's dramatic struggles and displaying gems of its intricate and profound culture with a contagious excitement. Those who wish to understand how an early modern silk road monarchy transformed into a contemporary petroleum-fueled theocracy will find no more informed or captivating guide." --Juan Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History, and Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan, "Iran is perhaps the most important poorly understood country in the world--too big and wealthy to ignore, too complex and dynamic to stereotype. Among this generation of historians of Iran, Abbas Amanat stands as a giant. He conveys his enormous learning in eloquent prose, retailing the country's dramatic struggles and displaying gems of its intricate and profound culture with a contagious excitement. Those who wish to understand how an early modern Silk Road monarchy transformed into a contemporary petroleum-fueled theocracy will find no more informed or captivating guide." --Juan Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History and Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan, "No book could be more pertinent for American readers . . . Mr. Amanat searches for patterns to make [Iran''s] tumultuous history lucid to nonspecialist readers. . . His account, in all its melancholy splendor, comes to embody what the 20th-century Iranian poet Forough Farrokhzad called ''a sorrowful stroll in the garden of memories.''"--Eric Ormsby, The Wall Street Journal "Amanat is a skillful narrator whose use of sources and anecdotes is illuminating. His book should be read by anyone who is curious about the history of political philosophy and ideas."-- The Economist "A stately, scholarly study."-- Kirkus Reviews "Yale historian Amanat''s absorbing history takes readers from the battleFields of Anatolia, where the Safavid dynasty rose through many vicissitudes, through to trysts with democratic experiments to the 1979 theocratic revolution ushered in by Ayatollah Khomeini."--Nayan Chanda, Global Asia Book Reviews "Navigating a history as rich and diverse - not to mention as violent and desperate - as that of Iran is no easy feat but Amanat succeeds in his task with aplomb. His route down this turbulent course is as thoroughly researched and painstakingly structured as it is fascinating."--John Burns, PopMatters.com "Iran is perhaps the most important poorly understood country in the world--too big and wealthy to ignore, too complex and dynamic to stereotype. Among this generation of historians of Iran, Abbas Amanat stands as a giant. He conveys his enormous learning in eloquent prose, retailing the country''s dramatic struggles and displaying gems of its intricate and profound culture with a contagious excitement. Those who wish to understand how an early modern Silk Road monarchy transformed into a contemporary petroleum-fueled theocracy will find no more informed or captivating guide."--Juan Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History and Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan "This sweeping but richly detailed text is an impressive treatment of the longue dur e of Iranian history since 1501. Amanat interweaves narrative with stimulating analysis and commentary on culture, society, and politics in Iran with a skill based on deep scholarship and understanding. It is rare to find a book that will be important for both those new to Iranian studies and those already in the field: the former will find the book an invaluable starting point, and the latter will gain much from engaging with Amanat''s creative and challenging insights and arguments."--Joanna de Groot, University of York "The appearance of this comprehensive and flowing narrative history of early modern and modern Iran could not be more timely, given the deep-seated misunderstandings and prejudices that persist regarding that country. Few scholars could be as well placed to write it as Abbas Amanat, who has devoted many decades to studying Iran''s history and culture. This is likely to remain a work of reference that can be appreciated by students as well as interested general readers. An impressive achievement!"--Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Distinguished Professor of History, UCLA "Lucid, readable, and erudite, Abbas Amanat''s flowing narrative uses comparisons and connections with the surrounding world to reveal the dialogical and often defensive character of Iran''s routes to modernity. Amanat highlights the heterogeneous groups and contending interests that shaped what he calls a ''Persianized version of modernity.'' Balancing analysis of changes in political economy with the roles of public religion and the persistence of cultural traditions, this is a compelling and comprehensive conspectus of Iranian history with a magisterial command of detail."--Nile Green, University of California, Los Angeles, "Amanat is a skillful narrator whose use of sources and anecdotes is illuminating. His book should be read by anyone who is curious about the history of political philosophy and ideas."-- The Economist "A stately, scholarly study."-- Kirkus Reviews "Yale historian Amanat's absorbing history takes readers from the battle'elds of Anatolia, where the Safavid dynasty rose through many vicissitudes, through to trysts with democratic experiments to the 1979 theocratic revolution ushered in by Ayatollah Khomeini."--Nayan Chanda, Global Asia Book Reviews "Iran is perhaps the most important poorly understood country in the world--too big and wealthy to ignore, too complex and dynamic to stereotype. Among this generation of historians of Iran, Abbas Amanat stands as a giant. He conveys his enormous learning in eloquent prose, retailing the country's dramatic struggles and displaying gems of its intricate and profound culture with a contagious excitement. Those who wish to understand how an early modern Silk Road monarchy transformed into a contemporary petroleum-fueled theocracy will find no more informed or captivating guide."--Juan Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History and Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan "This sweeping but richly detailed text is an impressive treatment of the longue dur e of Iranian history since 1501. Amanat interweaves narrative with stimulating analysis and commentary on culture, society, and politics in Iran with a skill based on deep scholarship and understanding. It is rare to find a book that will be important for both those new to Iranian studies and those already in the field: the former will find the book an invaluable starting point, and the latter will gain much from engaging with Amanat's creative and challenging insights and arguments."--Joanna de Groot, University of York "The appearance of this comprehensive and flowing narrative history of early modern and modern Iran could not be more timely, given the deep-seated misunderstandings and prejudices that persist regarding that country. Few scholars could be as well placed to write it as Abbas Amanat, who has devoted many decades to studying Iran's history and culture. This is likely to remain a work of reference that can be appreciated by students as well as interested general readers. An impressive achievement!"--Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Distinguished Professor of History, UCLA "Lucid, readable, and erudite, Abbas Amanat's flowing narrative uses comparisons and connections with the surrounding world to reveal the dialogical and often defensive character of Iran's routes to modernity. Amanat highlights the heterogeneous groups and contending interests that shaped what he calls a 'Persianized version of modernity.' Balancing analysis of changes in political economy with the roles of public religion and the persistence of cultural traditions, this is a compelling and comprehensive conspectus of Iranian history with a magisterial command of detail."--Nile Green, University of California, Los Angeles, "No book could be more pertinent for American readers . . . Mr. Amanat searches for patterns to make [Iran''s] tumultuous history lucid to nonspecialist readers. . . His account, in all its melancholy splendor, comes to embody what the 20th-century Iranian poet Forough Farrokhzad called ''a sorrowful stroll in the garden of memories.''"--Eric Ormsby, The Wall Street Journal "The defiant spirit of the country is brought to life in this monumental history of the past 500 years."--Richard Spencer, Times "Amanat is a skillful narrator whose use of sources and anecdotes is illuminating. His book should be read by anyone who is curious about the history of political philosophy and ideas."-- The Economist "A stately, scholarly study."-- Kirkus Reviews "Yale historian Amanat''s absorbing history takes readers from the battleFields of Anatolia, where the Safavid dynasty rose through many vicissitudes, through to trysts with democratic experiments to the 1979 theocratic revolution ushered in by Ayatollah Khomeini."--Nayan Chanda, Global Asia Book Reviews "Navigating a history as rich and diverse - not to mention as violent and desperate - as that of Iran is no easy feat but Amanat succeeds in his task with aplomb. His route down this turbulent course is as thoroughly researched and painstakingly structured as it is fascinating."--John Burns, PopMatters.com "Iran is perhaps the most important poorly understood country in the world--too big and wealthy to ignore, too complex and dynamic to stereotype. Among this generation of historians of Iran, Abbas Amanat stands as a giant. He conveys his enormous learning in eloquent prose, retailing the country''s dramatic struggles and displaying gems of its intricate and profound culture with a contagious excitement. Those who wish to understand how an early modern Silk Road monarchy transformed into a contemporary petroleum-fueled theocracy will find no more informed or captivating guide."--Juan Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History and Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan "This sweeping but richly detailed text is an impressive treatment of the longue dur e of Iranian history since 1501. Amanat interweaves narrative with stimulating analysis and commentary on culture, society, and politics in Iran with a skill based on deep scholarship and understanding. It is rare to find a book that will be important for both those new to Iranian studies and those already in the field: the former will find the book an invaluable starting point, and the latter will gain much from engaging with Amanat''s creative and challenging insights and arguments."--Joanna de Groot, University of York "The appearance of this comprehensive and flowing narrative history of early modern and modern Iran could not be more timely, given the deep-seated misunderstandings and prejudices that persist regarding that country. Few scholars could be as well placed to write it as Abbas Amanat, who has devoted many decades to studying Iran''s history and culture. This is likely to remain a work of reference that can be appreciated by students as well as interested general readers. An impressive achievement!"--Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Distinguished Professor of History, UCLA "Lucid, readable, and erudite, Abbas Amanat''s flowing narrative uses comparisons and connections with the surrounding world to reveal the dialogical and often defensive character of Iran''s routes to modernity. Amanat highlights the heterogeneous groups and contending interests that shaped what he calls a ''Persianized version of modernity.'' Balancing analysis of changes in political economy with the roles of public religion and the persistence of cultural traditions, this is a compelling and comprehensive conspectus of Iranian history with a magisterial command of detail."--Nile Green, University of California, Los Angeles, "A stately, scholarly study."-- Kirkus Reviews "Iran is perhaps the most important poorly understood country in the world--too big and wealthy to ignore, too complex and dynamic to stereotype. Among this generation of historians of Iran, Abbas Amanat stands as a giant. He conveys his enormous learning in eloquent prose, retailing the country's dramatic struggles and displaying gems of its intricate and profound culture with a contagious excitement. Those who wish to understand how an early modern Silk Road monarchy transformed into a contemporary petroleum-fueled theocracy will find no more informed or captivating guide."--Juan Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History and Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan "This sweeping but richly detailed text is an impressive treatment of the longue dur e of Iranian history since 1501. Amanat interweaves narrative with stimulating analysis and commentary on culture, society, and politics in Iran with a skill based on deep scholarship and understanding. It is rare to find a book that will be important for both those new to Iranian studies and those already in the field: the former will find the book an invaluable starting point, and the latter will gain much from engaging with Amanat's creative and challenging insights and arguments."--Joanna de Groot, University of York "The appearance of this comprehensive and flowing narrative history of early modern and modern Iran could not be more timely, given the deep-seated misunderstandings and prejudices that persist regarding that country. Few scholars could be as well placed to write it as Abbas Amanat, who has devoted many decades to studying Iran's history and culture. This is likely to remain a work of reference that can be appreciated by students as well as interested general readers. An impressive achievement!"--Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Distinguished Professor of History, UCLA "Lucid, readable, and erudite, Abbas Amanat's flowing narrative uses comparisons and connections with the surrounding world to reveal the dialogical and often defensive character of Iran's routes to modernity. Amanat highlights the heterogeneous groups and contending interests that shaped what he calls a 'Persianized version of modernity.' Balancing analysis of changes in political economy with the roles of public religion and the persistence of cultural traditions, this is a compelling and comprehensive conspectus of Iranian history with a magisterial command of detail."--Nile Green, University of California, Los Angeles, "Lucid, readable and erudite, Abbas Amanat's flowing narrative uses comparisons and connections with the surrounding world to reveal the dialogical and often defensive character of Iran's routes to modernity. Amanat highlights the heterogeneous groups and contending interests that shaped what he calls a "Persianized version of modernity." Balancing analysis of changes in political economy with the roles of public religion and the persistence of cultural traditions, this is a compelling and comprehensive conspectus of Iranian history with a magisterial command of detail." --- Nile Green, University of California, Los Angeles , "The appearance of this comprehensive and flowing narrative history of early modern and modern Iran could not be more timely, given the deep-seated misunderstandings and prejudices that persist regarding that country. Few scholars could be as well placed to write it as Abbas Amanat, who has devoted many decades to studying Iran's history and culture. This is likely to remain a work of reference, which can be read by students as much as the interested layman. An impressive achievement!"--Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Distinguished Professor of History, UCLA , "Lucid, readable, and erudite, Abbas Amanat's flowing narrative uses comparisons and connections with the surrounding world to reveal the dialogical and often defensive character of Iran's routes to modernity. Amanat highlights the heterogeneous groups and contending interests that shaped what he calls a 'Persianized version of modernity.' Balancing analysis of changes in political economy with the roles of public religion and the persistence of cultural traditions, this is a compelling and comprehensive conspectus of Iranian history with a magisterial command of detail."--Nile Green, University of California, Los Angeles, "A stately, scholarly study."-- Kirkus Reviews "Iran is perhaps the most important poorly understood country in the world--too big and wealthy to ignore, too complex and dynamic to stereotype. Among this generation of historians of Iran, Abbas Amanat stands as a giant. He conveys his enormous learning in eloquent prose, retailing the country's dramatic struggles and displaying gems of its intricate and profound culture with a contagious excitement. Those who wish to understand how an early modern Silk Road monarchy transformed into a contemporary petroleum-fueled theocracy will find no more informed or captivating guide." --Juan Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History and Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan "This sweeping but richly detailed text is an impressive treatment of the longue dur e of Iranian history since 1501. Amanat interweaves narrative with stimulating analysis and commentary on culture, society, and politics in Iran with a skill based on deep scholarship and understanding. It is rare to find a book that will be important for both those new to Iranian studies and those already in the field: the former will find the book an invaluable starting point, and the latter will gain much from engaging with Amanat's creative and challenging insights and arguments."--Joanna de Groot, University of York "The appearance of this comprehensive and flowing narrative history of early modern and modern Iran could not be more timely, given the deep-seated misunderstandings and prejudices that persist regarding that country. Few scholars could be as well placed to write it as Abbas Amanat, who has devoted many decades to studying Iran's history and culture. This is likely to remain a work of reference that can be appreciated by students as well as interested general readers. An impressive achievement!"--Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Distinguished Professor of History, UCLA "Lucid, readable, and erudite, Abbas Amanat's flowing narrative uses comparisons and connections with the surrounding world to reveal the dialogical and often defensive character of Iran's routes to modernity. Amanat highlights the heterogeneous groups and contending interests that shaped what he calls a 'Persianized version of modernity.' Balancing analysis of changes in political economy with the roles of public religion and the persistence of cultural traditions, this is a compelling and comprehensive conspectus of Iranian history with a magisterial command of detail."--Nile Green, University of California, Los Angeles, "This sweeping but richly detailed text is an impressive treatment of the longue dur e of Iranian history since 1501. Amanat interweaves narrative with stimulating analysis and commentary on culture, society, and politics in Iran with a skill based on deep scholarship and understanding. It is rare to find a book that will be important for both those new to Iranian studies and those already in the field: the former will find the book an invaluable starting point, and the latter will gain much from engaging with Amanat's creative and challenging insights and arguments."--Joanna de Groot, University of York, "The appearance of this comprehensive and flowing narrative history of early modern and modern Iran could not be more timely, given the deep-seated misunderstandings and prejudices that persist regarding that country. Few scholars could be as well placed to write it as Abbas Amanat, who has devoted many decades to studying Iran's history and culture. This is likely to remain a work of reference that can be appreciated by students as well as interested general readers. An impressive achievement!"--Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Distinguished Professor of History, UCLA, "Amanat is a skillful narrator whose use of sources and anecdotes is illuminating. His book should be read by anyone who is curious about the history of political philosophy and ideas."-- The Economist "A stately, scholarly study."-- Kirkus Reviews "Yale historian Amanat''s absorbing history takes readers from the battleFields of Anatolia, where the Safavid dynasty rose through many vicissitudes, through to trysts with democratic experiments to the 1979 theocratic revolution ushered in by Ayatollah Khomeini."--Nayan Chanda, Global Asia Book Reviews "Navigating a history as rich and diverse - not to mention as violent and desperate - as that of Iran is no easy feat but Amanat succeeds in his task with aplomb. His route down this turbulent course is as thoroughly researched and painstakingly structured as it is fascinating."--John Burns, PopMatters.com "Iran is perhaps the most important poorly understood country in the world--too big and wealthy to ignore, too complex and dynamic to stereotype. Among this generation of historians of Iran, Abbas Amanat stands as a giant. He conveys his enormous learning in eloquent prose, retailing the country''s dramatic struggles and displaying gems of its intricate and profound culture with a contagious excitement. Those who wish to understand how an early modern Silk Road monarchy transformed into a contemporary petroleum-fueled theocracy will find no more informed or captivating guide."--Juan Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History and Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan "This sweeping but richly detailed text is an impressive treatment of the longue dur e of Iranian history since 1501. Amanat interweaves narrative with stimulating analysis and commentary on culture, society, and politics in Iran with a skill based on deep scholarship and understanding. It is rare to find a book that will be important for both those new to Iranian studies and those already in the field: the former will find the book an invaluable starting point, and the latter will gain much from engaging with Amanat''s creative and challenging insights and arguments."--Joanna de Groot, University of York "The appearance of this comprehensive and flowing narrative history of early modern and modern Iran could not be more timely, given the deep-seated misunderstandings and prejudices that persist regarding that country. Few scholars could be as well placed to write it as Abbas Amanat, who has devoted many decades to studying Iran''s history and culture. This is likely to remain a work of reference that can be appreciated by students as well as interested general readers. An impressive achievement!"--Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Distinguished Professor of History, UCLA "Lucid, readable, and erudite, Abbas Amanat''s flowing narrative uses comparisons and connections with the surrounding world to reveal the dialogical and often defensive character of Iran''s routes to modernity. Amanat highlights the heterogeneous groups and contending interests that shaped what he calls a ''Persianized version of modernity.'' Balancing analysis of changes in political economy with the roles of public religion and the persistence of cultural traditions, this is a compelling and comprehensive conspectus of Iranian history with a magisterial command of detail."--Nile Green, University of California, Los Angeles, "Iran is perhaps the most important poorly understood country in the world--too big and wealthy to ignore, too complex and dynamic to stereotype. Among this generation of historians of Iran, Abbas Amanat stands as a giant. He conveys his enormous learning in eloquent prose, retailing the country's dramatic struggles and displaying gems of its intricate and profound culture with a contagious excitement. Those who wish to understand how an early modern Silk Road monarchy transformed into a contemporary petroleum-fueled theocracy will find no more informed or captivating guide." --Juan Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History and Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan "This sweeping but richly detailed text is an impressive treatment of the longue dur e of Iranian history since 1501. Amanat interweaves narrative with stimulating analysis and commentary on culture, society, and politics in Iran with a skill based on deep scholarship and understanding. It is rare to find a book that will be important for both those new to Iranian studies and those already in the field: the former will find the book an invaluable starting point, and the latter will gain much from engaging with Amanat's creative and challenging insights and arguments."--Joanna de Groot, University of York "The appearance of this comprehensive and flowing narrative history of early modern and modern Iran could not be more timely, given the deep-seated misunderstandings and prejudices that persist regarding that country. Few scholars could be as well placed to write it as Abbas Amanat, who has devoted many decades to studying Iran's history and culture. This is likely to remain a work of reference that can be appreciated by students as well as interested general readers. An impressive achievement!"--Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Distinguished Professor of History, UCLA "Lucid, readable, and erudite, Abbas Amanat's flowing narrative uses comparisons and connections with the surrounding world to reveal the dialogical and often defensive character of Iran's routes to modernity. Amanat highlights the heterogeneous groups and contending interests that shaped what he calls a 'Persianized version of modernity.' Balancing analysis of changes in political economy with the roles of public religion and the persistence of cultural traditions, this is a compelling and comprehensive conspectus of Iranian history with a magisterial command of detail."--Nile Green, University of California, Los Angeles, "An admired scholar on many aspects of Iranian history and culture, Abbas Amanat has produced a work which is a fine expression of his subtle, learned and committed approach to those fields. This sweeping but richly detailed text is an impressive treatment of the longue duree of Iranian history since 1500. It interweaves dense narrative with stimulating analysis and commentary on culture and society in Iran, as well as on politics, with a skill based on deep scholarship and understanding, and on a capacity to communicate that fluently. It is rare to find a book of this kind which will be important for both those new to Iranian studies and those already in the field; the former will find the book an invaluable starting point, and the latter will gain much from engaging with Amanat's creative and challenging insights and arguments."--Joanna de Groot, University of York , "Abbas Amanat is a giant in the field of modern Iranian history. No better guide to its texture and significance could be found. At a time when that country is on the front burner of U.S. policy, it is crucial that we understand Iran better, and that we start with this path-breaking study."--Juan Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History, and Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan
