- Hardcover: 290 pages
- Publisher: Broadway Books (17 May 2011)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0307587738
- ISBN-13: 978-0307587732
- Product Dimensions: 15 x 2.8 x 21.6 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 939,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Saved by Beauty: Adventures of an American Romantic in Iran
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Roger Housden traveled to Iran to meet with artists, writers, film makers and religious scholars who embody the long Iranian tradition of humanism, the belief in scholarship and artistry that began with the reign of Cyrus the Great. He traveled to the mountains of Kurdistan to learn from Sufis, whose version of Islam exhorts nothing but tolerance and love. From the bustle of modern Tehran to the paradise gardens of Shiraz to the spectacular mosques and ancient palaces of Isfahan, Housden met Iranians who were warm, welcoming, generous, intellectually curious, and who would recite the poetry of Hafez or Rumi at the slightest opportunity.
Saved By Beauty weaves a richly textured story of many threads. It is a deeply poetic and perceptive appreciation of a culture that has endured for over three thousand years, while it also portrays the creative and spiritual cultures within contemporary Iran that are rarely given any mention in the West. It is a suspense story that reflects on the philosophical and aesthetic questions of good and evil, truth and beauty. And finally, it is the story of a man in his sixties on a personal quest to discover if the Iran of his youthful imagination continued to exist, or whether it had been lost forever under a strict totalitarian regime. In Iran, Roger Housden was brought face to face with the reality that beauty and truth, deceit and violence, are inextricably mingled in the affairs of human life, and was forever changed.
Saved By Beauty weaves a richly textured story of many threads. It is a deeply poetic and perceptive appreciation of a culture that has endured for over three thousand years, while it also portrays the creative and spiritual cultures within contemporary Iran that are rarely given any mention in the West. It is a suspense story that reflects on the philosophical and aesthetic questions of good and evil, truth and beauty. And finally, it is the story of a man in his sixties on a personal quest to discover if the Iran of his youthful imagination continued to exist, or whether it had been lost forever under a strict totalitarian regime. In Iran, Roger Housden was brought face to face with the reality that beauty and truth, deceit and violence, are inextricably mingled in the affairs of human life, and was forever changed.
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Amazon.com:
7 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Beauty indeed!
20 May 2011
Format:Hardcover
In this book, poetry surges from every encounter, every place, every description and the reader can feel Roger Housden's attunement with Iran in a passionate way. Beauty indeed! And Rumi whispers all along in the midst of the most enchanting places as well as in the sobering reality of the political control that lingers at every step. I love this book!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Thank you for a GREAT read,,,
11 Jun 2011
Format:Hardcover
Writing a review about Roger Housden's Saved by beauty has not been easy. I have to say, I've never felt a massive sense of duty to publicly review a book before, until Housden`s Saved By Beauty. But if there was a purpose in me reading it, its so that I can share my opinion of the book!!!
I personally LOVE Roger Housden's style. But even if I didn't , I would not criticize it. An author's style in writing is their identity , its who they are. It's the responsibility of the reader to figure it out , so as to get the most out of what they read. I must add that some are easier to figure out.
To call it a travel log is an understatement. Also, to say that the book speaks of his romantic notion of Iran is wrong, because it is not a notion any more. His enthusiasm radiates intensely throughout the narrative, loved the details, in fact I didn't want it to end.
This book is a rare occurrence, where a capable author, with special skills, met with the ,once in a God knows how long , opportunity to travel to some place, and write about his experience. This place happened to be Iran. He did not blind him self to the difficulties or the negativities of living there, he chose not to let it obscure him from seeing the beauty. And there is beauty every where on earth, beauty and soul in every nation, every civilization, and every religion. Housden's place of choice to explore to bring a piece of to the rest of the world to see, was Persia/Iran. And that is why I wish there will be a Roger Housden out there to write about every nation in history for the rest of the world's delight. A delight that happens to be a necessity as well.
This is a master piece in its beauty. And I hope you know how instrumental this book is, especially this time of our history.
One of the most beautifully written books I have ever put my hands on. And the great part, is that non of it is fiction.
Saved by Beauty: Adventures of an American Romantic in Iran
I personally LOVE Roger Housden's style. But even if I didn't , I would not criticize it. An author's style in writing is their identity , its who they are. It's the responsibility of the reader to figure it out , so as to get the most out of what they read. I must add that some are easier to figure out.
To call it a travel log is an understatement. Also, to say that the book speaks of his romantic notion of Iran is wrong, because it is not a notion any more. His enthusiasm radiates intensely throughout the narrative, loved the details, in fact I didn't want it to end.
This book is a rare occurrence, where a capable author, with special skills, met with the ,once in a God knows how long , opportunity to travel to some place, and write about his experience. This place happened to be Iran. He did not blind him self to the difficulties or the negativities of living there, he chose not to let it obscure him from seeing the beauty. And there is beauty every where on earth, beauty and soul in every nation, every civilization, and every religion. Housden's place of choice to explore to bring a piece of to the rest of the world to see, was Persia/Iran. And that is why I wish there will be a Roger Housden out there to write about every nation in history for the rest of the world's delight. A delight that happens to be a necessity as well.
This is a master piece in its beauty. And I hope you know how instrumental this book is, especially this time of our history.
One of the most beautifully written books I have ever put my hands on. And the great part, is that non of it is fiction.
Saved by Beauty: Adventures of an American Romantic in Iran
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Another country, people, and culture to fall in love with
12 Aug 2011
Format:Hardcover
I've enjoyed several of Roger Housden's books so far, and while Iran as a people and culture had never caught my interest in the past except for Rumi's poetry, his writing of his account there was enough to bring this land and its people into vividness and depth to me. Thank you, Mr. Housden, I look forward to the next leg of your spiritual journey, and of course, the book.
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