Persian Pilgrimages: Journeys Across Iran

By Afshin Molavi

Book Overview

Afshin Molavi, a young journalist and writer born in Iran and educated in the West, traveled his homeland for more than a year, encountering every facet of Iranian society students of the right and left, bazaar merchants, Islamic clerics, pro-democracy journalists, Islamic hard-liners, reformist politicians, grumbling taxi drivers, urban slum dwellers, partying teenagers, village farmers, handicapped war veterans, and kids hooked on anything western. All opened their hearts to him, speaking candidly about a wide range of issues: unemployment, politics, freedom, religion, poetry, history, the Internet, the legacy of the Islamic revolution, the current pro-democracy movement, Iran's relations with the West, and much more. Throughout his meetings and travels, Molavi wove the tale of nearly 3,000 years of Iranian history through pilgrimages to ancient and contemporary sites, shrines, and monuments, vividly explaining the relevance of Iran's past to today's Iranian predicament. The pilgrimages ranges from the tomb of Cyrus the Great on the windswept plains of Pasargad to the splendid rose gardens at the Shiraz shrine for the fourteenth-century poet Hafez, the golden domes of Ayatollah Khomeini's vast mausoleum in Tehran, a haunting war veterans' shrine for survivors of the devastating Iran-Iraq war near the border of Iraq, and the European embassy "visa pilgrimages" of college graduates frustrated by bleak job prospects and the social and political restrictions at home. Cutting through the official rhetoric of the Islamic Republic, Molavi adds much-needed context to its political power struggle and demonstrates that the realities of today's Iran are far more complex than if often understood in the West. Through interviews with courageous journalists, students, and pro-democracy advocates who battle an entrenched conservative ruling class unwilling to accommodate popular opinion and numerous conversations with average Iranians frustrated by their deteriorating economy and the conservative stranglehold on power, Molavi chronicles a land and a people hungry for change. Few books have penetrated the soul of Iran both past and present as deeply as this exceptional report on one of the world's most important nations. "Persian Pilgrimages" is a journey to remember. "A rare and important work that examines Iranian society from a grassroots, human level while offering a taste of the grand sweep of Iranian history. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in contemporary Iran." R. K. Ramazani, professor emeritus of politics, University of Virginia.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393051196
• ISBN13: 9780393051193
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Beautiful Portrait

This book does an amazing job rendering the staggering complexities, subtleties, and apparent contradictions of Iranian society in an intriguing yet understandable way. After reading many similar books - those written by journalists who travel around a country relating anecdotes about the everyday people they meet and those they interview, and incorporating the broad history of the country somehow - I've yet to find one written as well as this one, both in terms of how enjoyable the story is and how strong of a grasp the author has on the subject.

Profile of Tragic and Beautiful Country

This is one of the best political travel books I've read in a long time. The writing is superb, with flashes of real brilliance, and the history is sweeping and comprehensive. This book is like a front-row seat and a fly-on-the wall experience as Molavi travels throughout Iran, explaining everything from architecture to politics to Persian poetry. In the end, you come away feeling both hopeful and sad. Iran is really a tragic place. Iranians have so much potential, but they have been abused by Shahs, mullahs, the CIA and others. In this book, Molavi ably shows the beauty of Persian culture and the corruption of Iranian politics. As someone who grew up in Delhi, I was always fascinated by Iran because of its influence on Mughal India. What most attracted me in this book, however, was not the history, but the characters we meet in the journey, which gives us a glimpse into ordinary Iranian lives. The one flaw: while the writing is mostly superb, as I said, it is inconsistent. There are places where he falters, especially when delivering long chunks of history. Still, this is just simply a great book.

Better than Pilgrimages! Read it twice

I was excited to see this book in the store because I had read Persian Pilgrimages, the hardback version, and had heard that an updated version was in the works. I'm not sure if I agree with the publisher's decision to change the title to Soul of Iran (I think Persian Pilgrimages is more poetic), but the author, Molavi, delivers us more of his compelling and insightful narrative about his travels in Iran. What I like most about this work is the author's ability to weave history, politics, culture, and personal stories into a very nice narrative. He is also refreshingly honest and unbiased. His extensive interviews with the poor and the war veterans shows that he didnt only spend his time with rich, westernized Iranians. The new chapter -- his visit to the shrine of Dr Mossadegh -- is probably his best in teh whole book. In fact, I was disapointed that he didnt include a Mossadegh pilgrimage in the original, but he more than makes up for it here. This is simply a great book. As an Iranian-American who lived through the revolution and is frustrated by the American media's simplistic depictions of Iran, I think this book offers a far more sophisticated analysis of Iranian life than any other work out there. But the author doesnt take any sides. He explains things, but doesnt try to push an agenda. All those interested ib learning about the realities of an important country in the Middle East should pick up this book. And read it twice - as I did!

A profound look into Iran and Iranians

Afshin Molavi is very insightful for his young age. This is a wonderful book taking a glance at almost everything that makes Iran what it is. He not only explains about the history of every place he goes, but relates it to the people of Iran and how it effects them. It's very well written and rather easy to read. I would recommend it as a must read for any Iranian and person who is interested in Iran.

Superbly written, profound and insightful.

For those considering books on Iran, I can say with utmost sincerity that having read nearly every book on Iran this past decade--from Sandra Mackey to Sciolino to Robin Wright to Bahrampour, etc--that Afshin Molavi's book takes top prize. This is not to take anything away from the others--they were all finely written and had their own value and charm. Persian Pilgrimages, is however, in a class by itself. It combines a broad survey of Iranian history as well as the most accurate account I've read on the happenings in contemporary Iran. Molavi's prose is very eloquent, he combines great writing with a great sense of humor as well as sense of humanity. I highly recommend this book. It is truly an intimate encounter with one of the world's most fascinating countries and cultures.