"vivid description of the late 1970s in Iran"
In the late 1970s in Iran, Mahastee Mosharraf is a member
of the mid-echelon of the upper class. Her husband
Houshang runs a contracting firm that succeeds by bribing
the right people. Houshang and Mahastee provide a civil
public face, but have not shared sex in years. At work, Mahastee finds out that the Shah's secret police
arrested the son of a co-worker for rumors of participating
in Marxist activity. Unable to ignore it, Mahastee uses
her place in society that has given her substantial
contacts within the government to learn what
happened to the incarcerated man. Mahastee discovers that
the state prisoner was part of a Marxist revolutionary
group. Her investigation leads to Mahastee meeting
childhood friend and Marxist Reza Nirvani. Reza and
Mahastee share a hatred of the Shah, which is enough to
lead to an affair at the same time that the country's
social and political order begins to collapse. This is an exciting look at a moment just prior to a
pivotal event in the twentieth century. The story line
provides a deep look at Iran just before the Khomeini
revolution. Though readers will feel little empathy or
attachment to Mahastee, Reza, or Houshang, fans of late
historical tales will enjoy this vivid description of the
late 1970s in Iran. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted August 14, 2002
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