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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews

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4.3 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)

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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and Very Readable, 7 Jul 2006

By	Colin C "Colin C" (Glasgow) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Shah of Shahs (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

'Shah of Shahs' is a vivid account of the downfall of the last Shah of Iran - an insight into a great historical turning point with global repercussions, by a very accomplished writer.

As a reader without much prior knowledge of Iranian history who came to this having enjoyed 'Imperium' by Kapuscinski, I found it to be an accessible read, and all the more impressively so given that it is a fairly short book, in which the author must summarise a great deal of Iranian and colonial history while also writing as a genuine observer of the events of 1979.

Iran continues to be a highly mysterious country in western eyes, and this book does give you a good idea of the background to the current regime.

Recommended.

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27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shah of Shas; A fantastic story about the modern Iran, 14 Oct 2001

By	mejlvang@forum.dk (Stockholm, Sweden.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shah of Shahs (Paperback)

I'm a great admirer of Ryszard Kapuscinski, and I have read all of his work, or a least the part of it which has been translated into english. Shah of Shahs is Kapuscinski at his very best. In the book he gives a very personnal view of the circumstances that led to the abdication of the Iranian Shah and made way to the new leadership under Ayatollah Khomeini. In a highly readable way, Kapuscinski gives you an outline of the modern history of Iran. The book was written back in 1982, but the quality of Kapuscinski's writing ensures that the events and episodes described in the book still feels relevant and interesting even today.

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Andy Warhol front cover + some great writing, 29 Jul 2007

By	Sally Wilton "Sally" (Bournemouth UK) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Shah of Shahs (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

I knew nothing of Iranian history other than the relatively recent revolution by islamic fundamentalists. This book by my favourite roving reporter gives concise and detailed information about the story of the last 80 years or so of rule by the Shah and his father Reza Shah. I am sure my Iranian friends would deny any of this and would swear that their beloved Excellency The Shah of Iran has been maligned, but the facts stated would give good reason for the popular revolution that have been so disasterous for this country. The British interference is a disgrace, if it is true, as there was at one point a chance of democracy and prosperity for the people of Iran if only the Brits had not been so covetous of the oil reserves there, which in reality should have benefited the indigenous people and not the Billionaire Shah or the exploration companies. Although 20 years old this book is controversial but probably a very good statement of real facts surrounding a privaliged person who was incompetant, greedy, a playboy and ultimately a despot.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars What a Mumbo Jumbo!! I MEAN IT!!
Where do you start with this book. It is a compilation of notes, explanations of pictures plus accounts of few bozos on the streets of Iran. Read more

Published 10 days ago by M. Sedaghat

5.0 out of 5 stars The end of the Shah
Mr.K's second book to be translated into English.It was written during and just after the Iranian Revolution 0f 1978-79, and,as usual with Mr K,it is fantastic. Read more

Published 8 months ago by PygmyTwylyte

5.0 out of 5 stars Totalitarianism and its consequences
This book is not a chronological study of the Iranian revolution in 1978. It is speculative, meditative and quite remote from the events that so shook the world. Read more

Published 17 months ago by Pillowtail

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling account of troubled times
Having met several Iranians who left Tehran when the Shah was deposed I still knew very little about the politics and history of the country. Read more

Published 21 months ago by Glaucon

4.0 out of 5 stars Good
Very good book. You hear a lot written about Iran, and it often focuses on post-revolution times, often drawing comparisons with the comparatively liberal attitudes of... Read more

Published 22 months ago by S. A. Richmond

5.0 out of 5 stars the last shah
I had always admired the the last Shah of Iran until I read this book. Kapuscinski offers a great insight to the grip of power the Shah had in Iran and causes for his downfall... Read more

Published on 7 Jun 2007 by samir

5.0 out of 5 stars light on revolutions
In one hundred pages and in a very smart and subtle way Kapuscinski writes about the Shah, the people of Iran and the Revolution. Read more

Published on 27 Mar 2007 by emio

3.0 out of 5 stars Different way of looking at history
In a series of books I have read about 20th century Iran, this book looks like the "lightest" one of all because it is neither a history book nor a political analysis book. Read more

Published on 23 Oct 2006 by Kivanc Emiroglu

5.0 out of 5 stars Old book but essential reading, now more than ever
If you haven't read anything by Richard Kapuscinski, I suggest you start. I was initially a bit sceptical when, only a few pages into the book, the author admits that he doesn't... Read more

Published on 14 Sep 2004 by lavvocato

4.0 out of 5 stars Great journalistic work. Full of realism.
This book though now fairly dated, probably should be read by would-be revolutionaries and Islamists. Read more

Published on 18 Jun 2001

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	70% buy the item featured on this page: Shah of Shahs 4.3 out of 5 stars (13)
	9% buy The Emperor: Downfall of an Autocrat (Penguin Classics) 4.4 out of 5 stars (7) �5.37
	8% buy The Shadow of the Sun: My African Life 4.9 out of 5 stars (23) �5.97
	7% buy Imperium 5.0 out of 5 stars (9) �8.09

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