Customer Reviews

Blood and Oil: Inside the Shah's Iran (Modern Library Paperbacks)

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The cover of this book was a little intimidating--It looked to be a dryly academic men's book. What a wonderful surprise lies waiting inside. I could not put it down. It is a thrilling read and very informative.

Even this opinionated woman was taken with the eloquent narrative, the compelling story and impressed by the honesty of the author.

A GREAT READ

Prince Manucher Farmanfarmaian was born in 1917 as a Prince of Persia's reigning Qajar Dynasty. He was raised in a world of Oriental luxury in his father's harem. After obtaining a "proper" education in England, he returned to his homeland, which had changed forever. The Qajar Dynasty had been overthrown and replaced by a Military Officer named Reza Pahlavi, a man determined to "modernise" Iran. As the new Pahlavi Dynasty worked to break the power of the Persian Nobility, they would lead to the creation of a nation of hedonistic aristocrats, not only divorced from the common people but increasingly from reality in general. Writing these memoirs with the aid of his daughter Roxanne, Prince Farmanfarmaian delves deep into the splendor of the Pahlavi Dynasty, while at the same time revealing the very blunders which brought them down. From the profiteering of Reza Shah the Great, to the disastrous socialism of Mossadegh, to the havoc that the last Shah's "land reform" wreaked on the economy, the reader will deeply enjoy being swept away into a nation's tortured history. When the Mullahs finally seize controll and the Prince is forced to follow the Shah into exile, the reader will be on the edge of their seat wondering if he will finally escape. Prince Manucher and Princess Roxanne are to be applauded for taking up the challenge of the glory that was the Pahlavis, without at all ignoring their warts and pimples.

In this book, an Iranian aristocrat tells a tale of his memories of Iran's turbulent development years in 20th century. The book is first and foremost a selective story of the author's experiences rather than an insightful look at Iran's government and politics. It is very selective and subjective in presenting events as to support the author's point of view and conclusions. The book by itself does not provide necessary historic background to understand the political events discussed and hence one should already have a good knowledge of Iran' s political history to be able to digest the information and viewpoints provided in Blood & Oil. This book does provide a good insight into Iranian aristocratic life under the Shahs and provides one insider's view of historic events in the oil boom years. The bardic writing style used is a delight to read and proves the prowess of the authors in story telling.

This book is a must read for anyone who wants to gain an understanding of the psyche of the Iranians and why they feel so bitter towards the way the west has treated them and duped them out of hundreds of billions of dollars. A great insight into the British shenanigans in Iran.

Manouchehr Framanfarmaian was in a unique position during a unique period of Iran's history and I found the story enlightening, interesting, saddening and I am grateful that he wrote it.

This book although slanted with respect to Manucher Farmanfarmaian's family and particularly his father is a must read for people who have been taught and only know a western perspective of history as it relates to the Middle East and specifically Iran. Not only does it help to humanize the reader's attitude towards Iran, it also helps Eurocentrists (which most Americans tend to be) to understand why and how Iran was taken over by an extreme part of the Islamic fundamentalist religion. Manucher helps the reader understand how OPEC came into existence and how Ecuador played a major role in the eventual creation of OPEC. Manucher also explains the attitude Iran had toward England vis-a-vis Germany during World War II and why they actually initially hoped Germany would win the war--not because they loved Hitler or hated Jews, but because they wanted England out of their country where they were controlling the bulk of the oil in Iran. These sentiments exist all over the world by most non-Europeans towards England and now exist towards the United States more than most policymakers in the United States seem to understand. We need to step back and take a look at how we are resented and why. The problems that presently exist in the Middle East are a creation of policies we (US and Europe) began and now are being taken advantage of by religious fanatics who are preying on the resentment the common people have towards the United States. This book is an eye-opener and should definitely be read by "westeners." Even if Eurocentrists don't change their attitude towards this part of the world, it will help them to understand that part of the world.

Blood and Oil elucidates the history of Iran and its twentieth century encounter with the West in a most objective manner. The book is based on the life of Manucher Farmanfarmaian, a prince of the Qajar Dynasty (overthown in the 1920's). The high offfices held by Mr. Farmanfarmaian, his father (a former Prime-minister), and his brothers (Generals, ministers, diplomats ...) gives him the unique ability to take the reader behind the closed doors of Iranian politics all the way through the 1979 Revolution. Overall, an objective and entertaining book of high historic and academic value.

Where, oh post-modern America, are you going to find a true tale of royalty and restoration like this? Nowhere, but from the prince himself, Manucher Farman-Farmaian, who sweeps us up in luxuriant confidentiality, whisking us on a gallop through a forgotten era, Shiites and communists hot on our trail. So what if he was less than streetwise as dissent gathered like storm clouds? I wanted to see the glory that was Iran--not the darkness descending on it. I wanted to meet the inner sanctum of the Pahlavi dynasty and the relics of Farmaian's own kingly clan. Moreso, I wanted to know that this likable bon vivant escaped the senseless butchery of Khomenei's hoodlums and hangers-on. And when he does, I feel as if we've both escaped. Captivatingly written. I'd read whatever this wise man had to share, about the old life or the new.

Where, oh post-modern America, are you going to find a true tale of royalty and restoration like this? Nowhere, but from the prince himself, Manucher Farman-Farmaian, who sweeps us up in luxuriant confidentiality, whisking us on a gallop through a forgotten era, Shiites and communists hot on our trail.
So he was less than streetwise as dissent gathered like storm clouds. I wanted to see the glory that was Iran--not the darkness descending on it. I wanted to meet the inner sanctum of the Pahlavi dynasty and the relics of Farmaian's own kingly clan. Moreso, I wanted to know that this likable bon vivant escaped the senseless butchery of Khomenei's hoodlums and hangers-on. And when he does, I feel as if we've both escaped. Captivatingly written. I'd read whatever this wise man had to share, about the new life or the old.

The author was a previleged and lucky child as he was born into a rich family in Iran and got all the usual perks that came with it. His memoirs regarding historical events in Iran are extremely subjective and the author has not bothered at all even to show a pretense of objectivity. This is not a book for a reader seeking historical knowledge about Iran but it is valuable for a more knowledgable reader to see the how life in Shah's Iran looked from the vantage view of a high official of that regime. For the knowledgable reader who actually knows what was life in Imperial Iran was like, the author provides a clear example of the total ignorance of ruling elite about the internal situation of Iran. The book also gives a clear indication of the "inferiority complex" that had inflicted the Iranian ruling elite where they had total disdain for Iranians and considered everything Western superior.

Iran remains an enigma to most of the Western world. The hostage crisis of 1979-1980 was caused by Iranians who had distorted views of America. In this book, we have not only an insiders view of Iran but also an Iranian's view of the British and American attempts to make something of Iran which was alien to Iran's culture and people. As in most subjective histories, and this is as subjective as they come, there is a certain amount of "spin". At least in this masterpiece, we can enjoy the work of a master spinner, Manucher Farmanfarmanian.