Customer Reviews

Blood & Oil: A Prince's Memoir of Iran, from the Shah to the Ayatollah

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I came to this book interested more in the history of AIOC (Anglo-Iranian Petroleum Company). After reading these long worthy pages, I cannot but to praise the author for his engaging account of the Twentieth century history of Iran, although is just one view of the events, one side of the history.

This book provide a rich insight of the culture, religion and life of Persia, but also, the rol of Britain, United States and France in some of the important moments of Iran. This book is an excellent source in order to know more about the creation of OPEC, Venezuela's oil policy, Mossadeq overthrown and the description of the Ayatollah Khomeini bloody revolution. After reading these pages you realize how difficult is to rule in Iran since there are lots of conflict of interest and self interest, corruption and a powerful clergy, at least in those years.

In my opinion, and despite it may sound as cliché, Iran must learn from its history and errors. I only wish the best for Iran, peace and prosperity for its people. It all depends on its goverment and the strategy they take to become part of this globalized world and to live in peace.

I loved this book. A very believable easy to read family biography written by a member of the upper class in Iran. A wonderful history of the British Colonial Rule and the founding of Britisn Petroleum and OPEC. Relates Irans dealings with the major British, American and Dutch Oil giants as told by one of the fonders of OPEC. It gives you a whole new perspective on the over-throw of the Shah by the Ayatollah and Irans mistrust of the West.