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''A gift both to readers fascinated by other cultures and to lovers of fiction for fiction s sake.'' --The Washington Post Book World<br /><br />''Readers can gain a more balanced impression of Iran from this novel, which looks at life from the kind of humorous perspective few Westerners may associate with the current regime in that country.'' --The Christian Science Monitor<br /><br />''Howlingly funny . . . [a] tender, salacious and magical Iranian import'' --Cleveland Plain Dealer
''Readers can gain a more balanced impression of Iran from this novel, which looks at life from the kind of humorous perspective few Westerners may associate with the current regime in that country.'' --The Christian Science Monitor
''Howlingly funny . . . [a] tender, salacious and magical Iranian import'' --Cleveland Plain Dealer
''Readers can gain a more balanced impression of Iran from this novel, which looks at life from the kind of humorous perspective few Westerners may associate with the current regime in that country.'' --The Christian Science Monitor
''Howlingly funny . . . [a] tender, salacious and magical Iranian import'' --Cleveland Plain Dealer
Product Description
Since 1917 The Modern Library prides itself as The modern Library of the world s Best Books. Its paperback series feature treasured classics, major translations of great works, and rediscoveries of keen literary and historical merit.Featuring introductions by leading writers, stunning translations, scholarly endnotes and reading group guides. Production values emphasize superior quality and readability. Competitive prices, coupled with exciting cover design make these an ideal gift to be cherished by the avid reader.<br /> <br /> The most beloved Iranian novel of the twentieth century "God forbid, I've fallen in love with Layli!" So begins the farce of our narrator s life, one spent in a large extended Iranian family lorded over by the blustering, paranoid patriarch, Dear Uncle Napoleon. When Uncle Napoleon s least-favorite nephew falls for his daughter, Layli, family fortunes are reversed, feuds fired up and resolved, and assignations attempted and thwarted.
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NOTE: The word "Khan," which often follows masculine names, is an honorific used to show respect (particularly from a younger to an older person) or, between equals, affection. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
NOTE: The word "Khan," which often follows masculine names, is an honorific used to show respect (particularly from a younger to an older person) or, between equals, affection. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Americans have become so accustomed to seeing televised images of dour Ayatollahs and grim-faced Iranian demonstrators shouting "Death to the Great Satan" that we have forgotten that Iran is also the land of Omar Khayyam. Pezeshkzad and his characters have more in common with the 12th century poet than the religious revolutionaries who overthrew the Shah would like, and the readers will give thanks with laughter.
Early in World War II, the unnamed 15-year-old narrator becomes infatuated with his first cousin Layli, the daughter of the narrator's uncle, derisively nicknamed Napoleon for constantly voicing admiration for the French general. At a family gathering, the narrator's father vents annoyance with Uncle Napoleon's unending inflation of his military record (Uncle Napoleon's four-man gendarmerie squad over the years had been transformed into dozens of army battalions thwarting the plans of British imperialism). For his father's offense, the narrator is banned from seeing his beloved Layli, who Uncle Napoleon betrothes to the narrator's horse-faced cousin Puri. The narrator turns to his cousin Asadollah, a bon vivant and womanizer extraordinaire, for advice in stopping the wedding and winning Layli. The action builds to a climax when the British occupy Tehran.
The results . . . well, I won't give it away. But if you like laugh-out-loud farce mixed with sharp-eyed satire, you owe it to yourself to read this book. It belongs on a very short list of comic masterpieces of world literature.
Early in World War II, the unnamed 15-year-old narrator becomes infatuated with his first cousin Layli, the daughter of the narrator's uncle, derisively nicknamed Napoleon for constantly voicing admiration for the French general. At a family gathering, the narrator's father vents annoyance with Uncle Napoleon's unending inflation of his military record (Uncle Napoleon's four-man gendarmerie squad over the years had been transformed into dozens of army battalions thwarting the plans of British imperialism). For his father's offense, the narrator is banned from seeing his beloved Layli, who Uncle Napoleon betrothes to the narrator's horse-faced cousin Puri. The narrator turns to his cousin Asadollah, a bon vivant and womanizer extraordinaire, for advice in stopping the wedding and winning Layli. The action builds to a climax when the British occupy Tehran.
The results . . . well, I won't give it away. But if you like laugh-out-loud farce mixed with sharp-eyed satire, you owe it to yourself to read this book. It belongs on a very short list of comic masterpieces of world literature.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a wonderful book -- totally unexpected for those of us raised in the States since the Iranian Revolution. Broad humor -- think of "Good Soldier Schweick" set in the Middle East and you'll get the idea.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A farce set in Iran about 1941. The tale centres aroundthe narrators childhood crush on his cousin, and how it's frustrated by a family feud and snobbish relatives.
Much has been made of this books importance in understanding Anglo-Iranian relations, but first & foremost it should be read purely as entertainment. From there, the reader will realise that "Uncle Napoleon" isn't a purely Iranian phenomenon.
One wee tip: Skip the forewords and go straight to Chapter 1. Once you've read & enjoyed the story, feel free to have a read of it's "significance".
Much has been made of this books importance in understanding Anglo-Iranian relations, but first & foremost it should be read purely as entertainment. From there, the reader will realise that "Uncle Napoleon" isn't a purely Iranian phenomenon.
One wee tip: Skip the forewords and go straight to Chapter 1. Once you've read & enjoyed the story, feel free to have a read of it's "significance".
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
One of my favourites of all time!
This book is very unusual, being set in Iran and a comedy, and when i first picked it up I did not know what to expect. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Paulz
My Uncle Napoleon
"Well know, why should I lie? To the grave it's ah... ah..." Well what can I say? I thought my Turkish Cypriot roots and origin would help understand the Middle Eastern sense of... Read more
Published on 9 April 2010 by Jan
Very funny satire
After Pezeshkzad published this in 1973,and after it was turned into a TV series in the late 1970s,"My Uncle Napoleon" became an institution in Iran,and thrived underground since... Read more
Published on 19 Aug 2009 by PygmyTwylyte
Great read with many LOL moments
Finally finished My Uncle Napoleon the day after the book club meeting to review it. Sigh!
I must say I was a bit a taken back at all of the negative reviews of the book... Read more
I must say I was a bit a taken back at all of the negative reviews of the book... Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2008 by Simon Connell
Farce, yes; masterpiece, no.
An introduction tells us that this book is a satire on Iranian society and that it shows us a picture of it less dour than the image conveyed by its rulers and by our media. Read more
Published on 16 Oct 2006 by Ralph Blumenau
Perhaps the funniest book ever written
Th book is increadibly funny. I cannot reccomend it enough. It tells of a young boys love for his cousin and the way he fights of attention from his rivals. Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2006
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