Customer Reviews

Paradise Lost

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The amazing landscape, cities, ruins and historical monuments of Iran have been captured and recorded with such an excellent collection of aerial photographs which equal Erich Schmidt's pioneer aerial reconnaissance of Iran, published in 1940 (Flights Over Ancient Cities of Iran). The beauty of these images has been unfortunately somehow wasted by first the photographer's very personal, and - to some degree - offending account of his work in Iran, and second by the awkward organization of the book's content and text. It is really embarrassing to see a book exclusively on Iran with a table of contents which enlists the name of the Persian Gulf simply as "the Gulf" (the readers should wonder which Gulf?). The comble is when you see that the author of the text is an Iranian woman married to a Swiss. That is even worse when you find out that the book is dedicated to Farah Diba, the former queen of Iran!!! Ignorance or hypocrisy? Or both. It is really graceless. Even the title is silly: Paradise Lost! As someone well familiar with the terrain and all the sites represented in this book, I can say that the "paradise" is still there! I bought the book just for the sake of its wonderful images of Iran. Ignore the dull text, and let the images speak for themselves.

it took its time to arrive but it arrived in the conditions described by the seller. I like this book right from start, it is a great collection of rare aerial photos of Iran. It is breathtaking.

Photographer Georg Gerster proposed a pioneering aerial photography project documenting the landscape of Persia from above, and in the 1970s the Empress agreed to the project idea. PARADISE LOST: PERSIA FROM ABOVE is the result, representing some 300 flying hours and providing a complete photographic record of the landscapes and cities of Persia. Text describes the regions depicted, adds Persian poetry to the mix, and provides a rare glimpse at a region commonly hidden from the world's eye. Essential not just for arts collections, but for any strong in Middle East history and culture.

I love pictures and print. not really the words.
It is perfect gift idea. but you would not be happy as there is no picture from north or northwest of Iran in this selection. so it is more desert-ish pictures.