Official Review: Iran from Crown to Turbans

mmm17 · Post by **mmm17** » 14 Apr 2019, 09:11

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Iran from Crown to Turbans" by Gail Rose Thompson.]

3 out of 4 stars

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Iran from Crown to Turbans, written by Gail Rose Thompson, is a fascinating non-fiction book about all things Iranian. The Canadian-raised author lived in Iran for several years in the 1970s, when her husband Don was invited to work in the Iranian aluminum industry, and she accompanied him. The book is a 700-page tour de force that mixes in history, political analysis, memoir, and social commentary.

As a horse trainer, Thompson became an employee of the Imperial Court and a member of the Royal Horse Society, which gave her privileged access to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s court. The author witnessed firsthand the events leading to the fall of the Iranian monarchy (the crown) and the rise of the Islamic Republic (the turbans). Each chapter pertains to a specific theme, ranging from the royals’ personal lives to the Iran-Iraq war, and is a story in itself. There’s even a chapter dedicated to Iran’s tourist attractions – a sort of miniature travel guide.

Thompson characterizes the Shah as a gracious, good-natured dictator who wanted “the best for his country”, but whose arrogance prevented him to acknowledge the lax and corrupt aspects of his government – a corruption her husband faced directly as he did business in Iran. The author also admired Empress Farah Pahlavi, whom she portrays as a women’s rights advocate.

I found the parts related to Tehran’s social scene a bit frivolous – an account of someone who enjoyed “a life of carefree comfort and luxury.” The descriptions of millionaire members of a monarchical dictatorship squandering money in parties and horses were a little cheesy, in my opinion. I felt that these parts resembled tabloid gossip. On the other hand, the political analysis of the revolution that toppled the monarchy and brought Ayatollah Khomeini to power in 1979 – and forced the author and other expatriates to leave Iran – is remarkably presented.

The inside perspective on Iran and Islam, full of details about beliefs, customs, and culture, was a noteworthy positive point. I would never have thought of Tehran as the cosmopolitan city the author describes. Thompson clearly appreciated the time spent in Iran, which she describes as a fascinating place. She gives the reader a fresh perspective on a society of which we know so little. Also, there are a lot of pictures from the author’s personal collection in the book, which I enjoyed very much, for they give the reader a tangible idea of the people and places mentioned.

Lastly, I rate Iran from Crown to Turbans 3 out of 4 stars. It is a well-edited book – I didn’t find any errors in it. I am taking a star away because I thought the book would be better without the frivolous and gossipy parts. I believe it should appeal to readers interested in Iran and the Middle East. It might not appeal to those who aren’t fond of sociopolitical analysis.

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Iran from Crown to Turbans
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Post by **kandscreeley** » 20 Apr 2019, 10:31

It seems odd that the author takes on a gossipy tone in some parts. For a non-fiction book, that seems counter-intuitive. I'm not extremely interested in Iran, but I know other people would love it. Thanks for the information.

Janelle Juncos · Post by **Janelle Juncos** » 20 Apr 2019, 16:27

An inside perspective of Iran during a key political moment does sound interesting. Maybe the author thought the gossipy bits would help her appeal to a wider audience. Thanks for the Review!

Dentarthurdent · Post by **Dentarthurdent** » 21 Apr 2019, 08:18

mmm17 wrote: ↑14 Apr 2019, 09:11
Thompson characterizes the Shah as a gracious, good-natured dictator who wanted “the best for his country”, but whose arrogance prevented him to acknowledge the lax and corrupt aspects of his government – a corruption her husband faced directly as he did business in Iran. The author also admired Empress Farah Pahlavi, whom she portrays as a women’s rights advocate.

It's always great to see leaders in a perspective that contradicts our initial assumptions, like how 'good-natured dictator' seems like an oxymoron. I love it.
Thank you for a thorough review!

mmm17 · Post by **mmm17** » 21 Apr 2019, 16:50

Dentarthurdent wrote: ↑21 Apr 2019, 08:18
mmm17 wrote: ↑14 Apr 2019, 09:11
Thompson characterizes the Shah as a gracious, good-natured dictator who wanted “the best for his country”, but whose arrogance prevented him to acknowledge the lax and corrupt aspects of his government – a corruption her husband faced directly as he did business in Iran. The author also admired Empress Farah Pahlavi, whom she portrays as a women’s rights advocate.

It's always great to see leaders in a perspective that contradicts our initial assumptions, like how 'good-natured dictator' seems like an oxymoron. I love it.
Thank you for a thorough review!

I completely agree with you. Total oxymoron! I also found it intriguing...

mmm17 · Post by **mmm17** » 22 Apr 2019, 06:54

Janelle Juncos wrote: ↑20 Apr 2019, 16:27 An inside perspective of Iran during a key political moment does sound interesting. Maybe the author thought the gossipy bits would help her appeal to a wider audience. Thanks for the Review!

That is a good point. She might have tried to lighten the book a little so that it wouldn't just limit itself to political analysis, which could not be appealing to a wider audience. Thank you for commenting!