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IRAN

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The Arabian Nights

The Arabian Nights


by Husain Haddawy

  • LITERATURE
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 518 PAGES

Translator Husain Haddawy grew up hearing his grandmothers' friends re-tell these tales on winter nights in Baghdad. A wonderful introduction to Islamic Andalucia, the tales, translated from the oldest remaining Arabic version, bring to life the culture and society of the Islamic world at its height. (ARB10, $17.95)

The Assassins


by Bernard Lewis

  • HISTORY
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 166 PAGES

Lewis studies the history and influence of the group in this insightful account, putting recent terrorist events into a historical perspective. (IRN41, $15.95)

Baran


by Hossein Abedini

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2004
  • DVD

In a building site in present-day Tehran, a 17-year-old Kurdish worker is drawn to Rahmat, a young Afghan refugee posing as a boy. (IRN72, $19.99)

Chicken with Plums

Chicken with Plums


by Marjane Satrapi

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 96 PAGES

Satrapi, the author of the acclaimed Persepolis graphic novel trilogy, turns her gaze to the heart-rending story of her great-uncle, a celebrated Iranian musician. (IRN62, $12.95)

Color of Paradise


by Majid Majidi

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2008
  • DVD

The story of a blind boy returning home from school to a father who plans to disown him. (IRN98, $24.96)

Daughter of Persia, A Woman's Journey From Her Father's Harem Through the Islamic Revolution

Daughter of Persia, A Woman's Journey From Her Father's Harem Through the Islamic Revolution


by Dona Munker | Sattareh Farman Farmaian

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 410 PAGES

The last century of political turmoil in Iran reflected in the life story of one woman. (IRN29, $14.95)

Digging to America


by Anne Tyler

  • LITERATURE
  • 2006
  • HARD COVER

Tyler tackles in her 17th novel the clash of cultures when the Very American Bitsy and Brad Donaldson from Baltimore strike up an unlikely friendship with an Iranian couple, who have also just adopted a Korean baby. (IRN48, $24.95)

Eminent Persians, The Men and Women Who Made Modern Iran, 1941-1979


by Abbas Milani

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2008
  • HARD COVER
  • 1211 PAGES

A history of Iran from World War II to the Islamic Revolution through the biographies of 150 noteworthy individuals from Hoseyn Ala to Nima Yushij, broadly divided into Politics, Economics and Culture. A two-volume boxed set. (IRN73, $44.95)

A Feast in the Mirror, Stories by Contemporary Iranian Women


by Mohammed Medhi Khorrami | Shouleh Vatanabadi

  • LITERATURE
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 235 PAGES

A diverse collection of stories, revealing of daily life, culture and society in contemporary Iran. (IRN22, $17.95)

Forgotten Empire, The World of Ancient Persia

Forgotten Empire, The World of Ancient Persia


by John Curtis | Nigel Tallis

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2005
  • HARD COVER
  • 272 PAGES

This gorgeous book displays the exquisite splendor of Persia's Achaeminid Empire in a stunning collection of photographs, covering trade and commerce, religious and burial customs, jewelry, and many other facets of daily life in ancient Persia. (IRN39, $60.00)

Guardians of the Revolution, Iran and the World in the Age of the Ayatollahs

Guardians of the Revolution, Iran and the World in the Age of the Ayatollahs


by Ray Takyeh

  • HISTORY
  • 2009
  • HARD COVER
  • 352 PAGES

An accessible history of Iran's place in the world since the 1979 revolution, this book debunks the simplistic view of the nation as an intractable foe of the West, and views its recent history though the competing forces of Islamism, pragmatism and the desire for regional dominance. (IRN63, $27.95)

History of the Persian Empire


by Arthur Olmstead

  • HISTORY
  • 1959
  • PAPER
  • 568 PAGES

A classic, scholarly history of Persia. (IRN08, $30.00)

Honeymoon in Purdah, An Iranian Journey

Honeymoon in Purdah, An Iranian Journey


by Alison Wearing

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 336 PAGES

A delightfully insane jaunt through contemporary Iran. The author dives into the personalities and charm of the Iranian people in this entertaining, insightful account. (IRN24, $17.00)

In the Dragon's Claws


by Jerome Clinton | Firdawsi

  • LITERATURE
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 141 PAGES

Clinton deftly translates The Story of Rostam & Esfandiyar -- a moving tale from from the epic Persian Book of Kings -- into blank verse. (IRN89, $17.95)

In the Walled Gardens


by Anahita Firouz

  • LITERATURE
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 338 PAGES

A story of star-crossed lovers set on the eve of Revolution in Tehran. (IRN53, $21.99)

Iran Map with Iraq, Kuwait, and Dubai


by Freytag & Berndt

  • MAP

This regional map of Iran shows neighboring Iraq, Kuwait and Dubai. (IRN33, $14.95)

Iran, From Religious Dispute to Revolution


by Michael M. J. Fischer

  • HISTORY
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 360 PAGES

An insider's introduction to the Iranian revolution, based on Fischer's extensive fieldwork. (IRN95, $24.95)

Iran, Iraq, and The Legacies of War


by Lawrence Potter | Gary G. Sick

  • HISTORY
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 224 PAGES

An account by western and local scholars of the troubled relationship between Iran and Iraq, particularly the 8-year war and the role of outside states. (MDE153, $32.00)

Iranian Rappers and Persian Porn: A Hitchhiker's Adventures in the New Iran

Iranian Rappers and Persian Porn: A Hitchhiker's Adventures in the New Iran


by Jamie Maslin

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2009
  • HARD COVER
  • 265 PAGES

One man's journey uncovers the real voices of Iran, the youth that longs for democratic freedom. This is a story of survival, spontaneous encounters and making new friends. (IRN74, $24.95)

Persian Mirrors, The Elusive Face of Iran

Persian Mirrors, The Elusive Face of Iran


by Elaine Sciolino

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 432 PAGES

A complex portrait of contemporary Iran by a "New York Times" reporter attuned to the culture and people of the country. Sciolino has been a keen observer of Iran, its politics and people for two decades. (IRN21, $25.99)

Jasmine and Stars, Reading More Than Lolita in Tehran


by Fatemeh Keshavarz

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 176 PAGES

Blending in firsthand glimpses of her own life -- from childhood memories in 1960s Shiraz to her present life as a professor in the U.S. -- Keshavarz paints a portrait of Iran depicting both cultural depth and intellectual complexity. (IRN107, $18.00)

The Last Great Revolution, Turmoil and Transformation in Iran


by Robin B. Wright

  • HISTORY
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 351 PAGES

A rich, anecdotal history of the events of the Islamic revolution of 1979 and its aftermath. Wright combines her own experiences and wide-ranging interviews with Iranians in this portrait of the fast-changing political and cultural landscape of the country. (IRN30, $15.00)

Lipstick Jihad

Lipstick Jihad


by Azadeh Moaveni

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 249 PAGES

Moaveni, a young reporter who grew up in southern California, returns to her parents' homeland in this engaging and insightful memoir of her experiences in Iran. With her illuminating anecdotes, the contradictions and complexity of life and culture in modern Iran are thrown into sharp relief. (IRN45, $13.95)

The Mantle of the Prophet, Religion and Politics in Iran


by Roy Mottahedeh

  • HISTORY
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 424 PAGES

This gripping account of revolutionary Iran and the role of Islam and politics is a powerful and insightful record of a turbulent time. (IRN43, $27.95)

Nine Parts of Desire, The Hidden World of Islamic Women

Nine Parts of Desire, The Hidden World of Islamic Women


by Geraldine Brooks

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 256 PAGES

A highly readable overview of the role of women in Islamic society, drawn from the author's many interviews with women throughout the Arab World. (ARB06, $15.00)

Overthrow, America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq

Overthrow, America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq


by Stephen Kinzer

  • HISTORY
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 384 PAGES

In this compelling review of American adventures overseas, Kinzer crisply outlines the events, politics and personalities of 14 cases in which America has brought down foreign governments over the last 110 years. (USA148, $17.99)

Persepolis


by Marjane Satrapi

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2008
  • DVD

The animated film adaptation of Satrapi's graphic novel/memoir shows post-revolution Iran through the exacting eye of a child. (IRN81, $29.95)

Persepolis 2, The Story of a Return

Persepolis 2, The Story of a Return


by Marjane Satrapi

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 192 PAGES

Satrapi's graphic novel/autobiographyof her experiences as a youth aboard in Vienna and back in Iran is visually superb, narratively smart, and free from sentimental claptrap. (IRN35, $13.95)

Persian Girls

Persian Girls


by Nahid Rachlin

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

Nahid hones in on modern Iranian society and the difficulties it continues to pose for women in this memoir about moving back and forth across Iran, living under the Shah as a teenager and coming to America. (IRN47, $14.95)

Persian Pictures

Persian Pictures


by Gertrude Bell

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 136 PAGES

This brilliant, vivid and impressionistic series of sketches, formed during her 1892 stay in Persia, is Gertrude Bell' s first published work. (IRN59, $18.95)

The Root of Wild Madder, Chasing the History, Mystery, And Lore of the Persian Carpet

The Root of Wild Madder, Chasing the History, Mystery, And Lore of the Persian Carpet


by Brian Murphy

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

An exuberant tale of a quest to understand the history, lore, design and allure of Persian carpets. Murphy follows the carpets from the wild madder fields of the title to remote Turkmen villages and markets, ending up in a gallery on East 57st Street in New York City. (IRN46, $19.99)

The Persians, Ancient, Mediaeval and Modern Iran


by Homa Katouzian

  • HISTORY
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 448 PAGES

A broad history of Iran incorporating its significant cultural and literary traditions. (IRN99, $30.00)

Pimsleur Basic Farsi (Persian)


by Pimsleur Language Method

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 2005
  • AUDIO CD

Four audio CDs with eight 30-minute lessons in basic Persian Farsi, covering elementary vocabulary and phrases used in travel and everyday situations. (IRN34, $24.95)

The Quest for Democracy in Iran, A Century of Struggle Against Authoritarian Rule


by Fakhreddin Azimi

  • HISTORY
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 492 PAGES

A discursive history of twentieth century Iran. (IRN93, $19.95)

The Routledge Handbook of the Peoples and Places of Ancient Western Asia, From The Early Bronze Age to the Fall of the Persia


by Trevor Bryce

  • REFERENCE
  • 2009
  • HARD COVER
  • 887 PAGES

This encyclopedia of the ancient near-East, featuring over 1000 extensive entries. (IRN84, $260.00)

The Saffron Kitchen


by Yasmin Crowther

  • LITERATURE
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

A rich family drama set against the backdrops of modern day London and Iran. When the wounds of her past bleed through into her life in England, Maryam Mazar must leave her family behind and return to her small Iranian village. (IRN54, $14.00)

Searching for Hassan, An American Family's Journey Home to Iran


by Terence Ward

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 352 PAGES

A family returns to Iran in search of their old chef and mentor. (IRN28, $17.95)

Shadows in the Desert, Ancient Persia at War


by Kaveh, Dr. Farrokh

  • HISTORY
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

This military history shows the successes of the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sassanian empires of ancient Pesria, along with their revolutionary military technology, tactics, and culture. (IRN66, $21.95)

Taste of Cherry


by Abbas Kiarostami

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1999
  • DVD

Austere and stately, this film about a man searching for someone to bury him after he commits suicide is, ultimately, about life in Iran. (IRN68, $29.95)

Vis & Ramin


by Fakhr al-Din Gurgani

  • LITERATURE
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 519 PAGES

This Penguin Classics edition of the epic tale of war and forbidden love, set in 11th-century Persia, is in a new translation by Dick Davis. (IRN83, $17.00)

Offside


by Jafar Panahi

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2007
  • DVD

The controversial Panahoi continues his exploration of the treatment of women in Iran with this wry tale, inspired by his daughter, of a group of women who sneak into the 2005 World Cup qualification match. (IRN71, $29.95)

Where God Was Born, A Daring Adventure Through the Bible's Greatest Stories

Where God Was Born, A Daring Adventure Through the Bible's Greatest Stories


by Bruce Feiler

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 416 PAGES

This third of Feiler's books on the Bible and the Middle East, takes him to Israel, Iraq and Iran. He interweaves his own spiritual quest with interviews and an account of travels with archaeologist Avner Goren. (MDE91, $14.95)

 

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