Customer Reviews

An Enduring Love: My Life with the Shah: A Memoir

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(27)

 

 

I enjoyed reading the book very much. The tone is natural and honest, with enough personal and public interest issues included to make it engaging. For someone who lost so much in the revolution to have refrained from naming too many individuals, whether in praise or blame, is remarkable, and shows a gracious and noble spirit. It leaves you wanting more but recognizing the value of the decision not to indulge. The final chapters are a heart-wrenching lesson in realpolitik Western-style. Most of all, I enjoyed reading about the events of the last 25 years from the perspective of someone who lost more than most people in the revolution and yet has managed to keep her love for the country, and her spirit, intact. She comes across as sad, but she's neither bitter nor cynical nor defeated; in fact, she sounds strong and hopeful. That achievement alone is worth shining the light on as a model to be emulated.

I read a white cover / draft copy of Farah Pahlavi's book which I bought [...] around two months ago.

I actually ended up reading this book three times and whilst doing so, compared it with similar accounts of the pre and post-revolutionary events which I had read about from other Iranian and non-Iranian sources. I also put side by side with what I could recall myself from the events of that era.

My overall conclusions and those of my father who is also an avid reader of Iranian history were to the effect that this book was one of the most authentic and significant accounts of the contemporary Iranian history.

Reading through Farah Pahlavi's book, I could not help to observe an earnest effort on her part to be objective even when the account given were almost definitely in conflict with her own family's interests and historical track records.

In short, it tallies, at least 90% of it.

Also, because this book has been written by a woman and because I am a Iranian woman myself, I cannot complete this review without drawing a comparative reference between the status of the Iranian women during the Qajar times, during the Pahlavi Era and where we are today some 25 years after the departure of the Pahlavi dynasty.

Women were essentially no more than common slaves or baby factories during the Qajar period. The Qajar Kings, apart from being grossly incompetent in terms of running the country, never demonstrated any tendency towards progressing the women's rights or status within their kingdom. On the contrary, they all had their vast Harems where much like today's Saudi Arabia, they had literally hundreds of wives, concubines and several hundred children (some of which were their own and others were the courtesy of their kind, supportive and thoughtful court employees). In those days, nepotism was rife of course and every one of these Qajar children (whether rightful or mostly of the courtesy variety) use to be given government posts which anywhere else in the world would have been reserved for experienced and highly qualified civil servants. Mohamed Mossadegh was one of these children who much like his other siblings was give put in charge of the finances of the Khorassan province (15% of Iranian land mass) at the age of 8 (Eight).

Against this background, one of the first acts of Reza Pahlavi, the hungry army Soldier who saw no option but to wrap up the Qajar's crooked show was women's emancipation. He started with the women in his own family and then immediately extended this right to every other Iranian woman. He also began the process of changing the country's laws allowing women to have a greater say in the society. This process was continued by his son who also secured voting rights for Iranian women and actively encouraged their education. All of this progress simply came to a halt and was then dramatically reversed after the 1979 revolution.

Without a doubt mistakes were made during the Pahlavi era and one of their greatest was the unequal opportunity that the Shah in particular gave to the rotten leftovers of the Qajar dynasty (the by now middle aged courtesy children). Resentful about their loss of status, as incompetent and manipulative as their forefathers and traitorous to the bone, the likes of Mohamad Mossadegh, Ali Amini and Amir Abbas Hoveida lost no time in subverting the otherwise progressive Pahlavi dynasty by generating and in many instances stage-managing shows of popular dissents which eventually cleared the path for the mullah's hijacking of Iran in 1979. This is indeed the one big criticism that I have of this book, it does not really deal with the role of the Qajar dynasty in our current predicament.

Wonderful timing wonderfull book and wonderful words to set the record right.
The memoir of Farah (Diba) Pahlavi, widow of the Shah of Iran, has been overdue.
The bookstores were thirsty of completing their shelves by this book; the bookstore near my office ran out the first day.

Both queen and Shah were dear to the heart of millions in Iran, the communism and fundamentalism joint-venture never liked orderly fashion of living. They are influenced by their disorderly system of mentality. Their joint-venture with help of foreign press and oil sisters destroyed a country that was close to be called Japan of Persian Gulf.

What Pahlavi dynasty delivered to Iran is not parallels to Saddam or any ruler around the world. True Pahlavi's story, needed time to emerge and Farah Pahlavi patiently provided such time. The Barbara Walter, of ABC's 20/20 interview with Farah Pahlavi (Shahbano) is the compliment of this book, sat the record right.

When the real differences emerged, today's world demonstrated is sorrow by establishment of Islamic Regime in Iran, their end result is Taliban. The book brings out the truth, one of the reasons for us reading negative posting in this site. Controversial subject always creates negative and positive critic, which is healty.

This is a wonderful book that made me proud and said out loud whatever million Iranians waited to let out, this touching and inspirational words are here for the world to read. She wrote with a contagious affection for her Iran, her love and the culture that nourished the world.

A revealing personal account of an important public figure of our time. This book provides an intimate look inside the world of pre-revolutionary Iran, as well as an emotional and poignant narrative of the post-revolutionary life of the Iranian royal family. For Iran scholars and enthusiasts, as well as for aficionados of biographies, this is a must-read. It provides personal details about the life of the royal family (including their experience of the revolution, relationships with various world leaders pre- and post-revolution, the Shah's illness, as well as the politics behind its mismanagement) which many people are unaware of.
It is also a touching autobiography of a public figure who has maintained incredible grace and dignity despite very difficult circumstances.
Many books have been written about people's experiences of the Iranian revolution, by members of the Shah's regime as well as by its opponents. How can you miss reading this one?

A wonderful book by a graceful, compassionate and intelligent lady! All persons who possess true love for Persian culture and heritage will treasure this book. This book helps rekindle hopes that were cruelly dashed in the past 25 years. Hopes that Iran shall become a focal center of divine splendours and her darksome soil will become luminous and her land will shine. Hopes that although now destitute and despondent, Iran will obtain abundant grace, achieve distinction and find abiding honour. Hopes that will be inevitably realized.

Shahbanou Farah's book has many facets. From childhood in Iran to her student years in France, she writes about a life many can identify with. Once she married the late Shah, her life changed forever. In this book she writes about herself as wife, mother and role model for an entire nation. She carried herself with dignity and grace throughout those years, and she focused her energy on charity work, educational progress, women's rights and the arts. Wherever she went in Iran, people loved her. However, with the tumultuous events of the 1979 Islamic revolution, one tragic event after another tested her endurance. The real tragedy of this story is that she and her husband had been true patriots and lovers of Iran, an Iran they had brought out of backwardness and third-world status, working towards democracy and being the 'island of stability' in that region. Still today she carries on with grace and dignity because of her enduring love for her country and its people.

This book takes us through the life story of a woman who has seen the highest highs and the lowest lows - and throughout has kept her humility, dignity and incomparable grace.

This story will give you great understanding of the politics of Iran and how they have drastically changed in the last 50 years.
Iran being a catalyst for Islamic fundementalism since the fall of the Shah; this tale will illuminate you on the daily struggles of the Shah - having to cope with foreign interests, Communism and the dark cloud of Islamic fundementalism.

These memoirs will take you on a roller coaster of emotions, from hope to despair, from love to hatred.

The Struggle for light over darkness, for enlightenment over the obscurantism of the clerical regime come to light in Enduring Love, My Life With the Shah: A Memoir.

An Enduring Love tells the saga of Farah Diba, a commoner, who after her marriage to the Shah of Iran participated actively in fostering women's rights, Persian culture and social justice. At a young age, she was introduced to the courtly life and trusted with the responsibility to personify the new image of modern Iranian women. Throughout her difficult life journey, Her Majesty Shahbanu Farah set an example of grace, honor, and dignity both in good and challenging times. Her Majesty has been a source of strength to many Iranians who live either under theocratic dictatorship or in exile. An Enduring Life offers an objective insight into the life of a lady who I am proud to consider as my Shahbanu. I recommend this book without hesitation.

(Iranian Unity and Solidarity Council)

What an amazing book! I was profoundly touched by the humanity, honesty and emotional openness of the writer. What a gripping emotional roller coaster of a life. It helped me better understand what really went on in Iran during those dark years. It's an opportunity to grasp the depth of the issues at hand, feel the human anguish, and open up to a different perspective on the key players of this extra-ordinary yet very real saga.

This is a wonderful book, very well written. The book has a wonderful flow which makes it very easy to read. This family has been through alot, and Her Majesty tells her story in a very sensitive way. It is a MUST READ. So buy it and read it. It also makes for a great gift!