“A majestic work that goes a long way in unraveling . . . the country’s  enigmas and apparent contradictions.”—Ervand Abrahamian, New York Review of Books

This history of modern Iran is not a survey in the conventional sense  but an ambitious exploration of the story of a nation. It offers a  revealing look at how events, people, and institutions are shaped by  currents that sometimes reach back hundreds of years. The book covers  the complex history of the diverse societies and economies of Iran  against the background of dynastic changes, revolutions, civil wars,  foreign occupation, and the rise of the Islamic Republic.

 Abbas Amanat combines chronological and thematic approaches, exploring  events with lasting implications for modern Iran and the world. Drawing  on diverse historical scholarship and emphasizing the twentieth century,  he addresses debates about Iran’s culture and politics. Political  history is the driving narrative force, given impetus by Amanat's  decades of research and study. He layers the book with discussions of  literature, music, and the arts; ideology and religion; economy and  society; and cultural identity and heritage.