Christopher de Bellaigue, a former contributor to The Economist, brings to light the fascinating story of one of the great anti-colonial heroes of the twentieth century: Muhammad Mossadegh, the great Iranian leader whose untimely demise resulted in the Islamic Revolution of 1979, and a man who has been demonized, ridiculed, and misunderstood in the West while remaining an icon and an inspiration across the Middle East. Patriot of Persia, a new biography exploring his life and impact, opens a crucial new window into Mossadegh—whose role in the evolution of Iran’s political climate cannot be overemphasized—providing a resource that will prove equally invaluable to academics, newshounds, and activists as they struggle to understand Mideast politics, Iran, Ahmadinejad, and the future of the region—and the world.
Patriot of Persia
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Editorial Reviews
From Bookforum
The first major treatment of Mossadegh's life to hit the mainstream US book market . . . is concise, smoothly written, and ultimately absorbing: The kind of portrait that serves as much as an introduction to a country as it does to a man. —Suzy Hansen
Review
“A compelling biography… Bellaigue…writes with economy and a lightly ironic touch…The result is a three-dimensional profile of Mossadegh that contrasts sharply with the heroic democrat mythologized by his supporters.” (Wall Street Journal )
“Economist Tehran correspondent de Bellaigue uses plenty of local insight to provide general readers with an intriguing combination of biography, history and strategic study.” (Kirkus Reviews )
“…superbly researched…” (Huffington Post )
“…a major strength of the book is that it does not seek to lionize the protagonist.” (Washington Independent Review of Books )
“Brilliant…A sweeping new biography…also a rich portrait of Iran amid the revolutionary upheaval of anti-colonial reform movements…-the antecedent, in many ways, of today’s Middle East uprisings.” (The Daily )
“…thanks to veteran journalist Christopher de Bellaigue’s brisk, engaging 300-page biography, Mossadegh’s strange personality and at times baffling motives come into clearer focus.” (The Daily Beast )
“A timely book…elegantly written…feels both fresh and relevant…highlights the dangers of a foreign policy that ignores the perceptions of those with memories longer than our own.” (The Guardian )
“Superbly timed…portrays some fascinating, and often farcical, stories of political life in Iran” (Independent )
“Compelling… the West has handled its relationship with Iran as badly as possible… we have little leverage with its people…de Bellaigue’s book goes far to explain why.” (Max Hastings, Sunday Times (London) )
“De Bellaigue’s book is unsurpassed as a rounded portrait of Mossadegh.” (Times Literary Supplement (London) )
“Authoritative…a politically astute biography” (Pankaj Mishra, London Review of Books )
“Portrayed by Bellaigue as a classic tragic hero…the book presents a nuanced portrait of an enigmantic man whose brilliance and fairmindedness fatally collided with his pride and rigidity.” (Tara Bahrampour, Washington Post )
“Brilliant…deft…De Bellaigue, fluent in Farsi, draws on previously unused Iranian sources to bring Mossadegh to vivid life…De Bellaigue’s powerful portrait is also a timely reminder that further Western recklessness toward Iran…would only pile tragedy upon tragedy.” (Roger Cohen, New York Review of Books )
“Economist Tehran correspondent de Bellaigue uses plenty of local insight to provide general readers with an intriguing combination of biography, history and strategic study.” (Kirkus Reviews )
“…superbly researched…” (Huffington Post )
“…a major strength of the book is that it does not seek to lionize the protagonist.” (Washington Independent Review of Books )
“Brilliant…A sweeping new biography…also a rich portrait of Iran amid the revolutionary upheaval of anti-colonial reform movements…-the antecedent, in many ways, of today’s Middle East uprisings.” (The Daily )
“…thanks to veteran journalist Christopher de Bellaigue’s brisk, engaging 300-page biography, Mossadegh’s strange personality and at times baffling motives come into clearer focus.” (The Daily Beast )
“A timely book…elegantly written…feels both fresh and relevant…highlights the dangers of a foreign policy that ignores the perceptions of those with memories longer than our own.” (The Guardian )
“Superbly timed…portrays some fascinating, and often farcical, stories of political life in Iran” (Independent )
“Compelling… the West has handled its relationship with Iran as badly as possible… we have little leverage with its people…de Bellaigue’s book goes far to explain why.” (Max Hastings, Sunday Times (London) )
“De Bellaigue’s book is unsurpassed as a rounded portrait of Mossadegh.” (Times Literary Supplement (London) )
“Authoritative…a politically astute biography” (Pankaj Mishra, London Review of Books )
“Portrayed by Bellaigue as a classic tragic hero…the book presents a nuanced portrait of an enigmantic man whose brilliance and fairmindedness fatally collided with his pride and rigidity.” (Tara Bahrampour, Washington Post )
“Brilliant…deft…De Bellaigue, fluent in Farsi, draws on previously unused Iranian sources to bring Mossadegh to vivid life…De Bellaigue’s powerful portrait is also a timely reminder that further Western recklessness toward Iran…would only pile tragedy upon tragedy.” (Roger Cohen, New York Review of Books )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ongoing Shock Waves Emanating from the Western-Backed Overthrow of Muhammad Mossadegh
July 29, 2012
Format:Hardcover
Christopher de Bellaigue narrates with much objectivity the life of Muhammad Mossadegh, a Western-educated Iranian liberal reformer whose ultimate goal was to make Iran both economically and politically independent from the West. The narration greatly benefits from Mr. de Bellaigue's intimate knowledge of both British and Iranian cultures.
Iran (also known as Persia) was a pawn in the Great Game, i.e., the commercial and military rivalry/conflict that existed between the British Empire and the Russian Empire (subsequently the Soviet Union) for supremacy in Central Asia. During his stint as Prime Minister of Iran from 1951 to 1953, Mr. Mossadegh's highest priority was to nationalize the Iranian assets of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC) (today known as British Petroleum or BP) so that his country would receive a fair share of the proceeds from the extraction and sale of oil. The Iranian oil industry had been under British control since 1913. Mr. Mossadegh wanted friendship with the West based on mutual respect and independence.
Great Britain, a fast declining empire whose finances were shaky in the aftermath of WWII, considered these assets essential for its solvency. Mr. de Bellaigue clearly explains to his readers how Great Britain convinced the U.S. to take its side in its quarrel with Iran to overthrow Mr. Mossadegh and to reestablish his more pliable rival, Shah Muhammad-Reza Pahlavi. The involvement of the U.S. in this coup d'état cannot be understood without the context of the Cold War that the U.S. and the Soviet Union waged for decades after the end of WWII.
Mr. de Bellaigue rightly observes that this coup inaugurated a U.S. policy in support of shoddy Middle Eastern despots in the ensuing decades.... Read more ›
Iran (also known as Persia) was a pawn in the Great Game, i.e., the commercial and military rivalry/conflict that existed between the British Empire and the Russian Empire (subsequently the Soviet Union) for supremacy in Central Asia. During his stint as Prime Minister of Iran from 1951 to 1953, Mr. Mossadegh's highest priority was to nationalize the Iranian assets of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC) (today known as British Petroleum or BP) so that his country would receive a fair share of the proceeds from the extraction and sale of oil. The Iranian oil industry had been under British control since 1913. Mr. Mossadegh wanted friendship with the West based on mutual respect and independence.
Great Britain, a fast declining empire whose finances were shaky in the aftermath of WWII, considered these assets essential for its solvency. Mr. de Bellaigue clearly explains to his readers how Great Britain convinced the U.S. to take its side in its quarrel with Iran to overthrow Mr. Mossadegh and to reestablish his more pliable rival, Shah Muhammad-Reza Pahlavi. The involvement of the U.S. in this coup d'état cannot be understood without the context of the Cold War that the U.S. and the Soviet Union waged for decades after the end of WWII.
Mr. de Bellaigue rightly observes that this coup inaugurated a U.S. policy in support of shoddy Middle Eastern despots in the ensuing decades.... Read more ›
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
de Bellaigue has written an exceptional book. Although there's a good bit about the coup that took down Mossadegh, the book's focus is greater than that. It serves as a lesson on Iranian politics from the 30's to the 50's and it gives a good glimpse of life and politics at the time.
The British do not, of course, come out of it looking good, neither do the Americans, who even going against the advice of some of its own more enlightened foreign service men, lets the British fool them into a coup that did not benefit American interests. That it later led to the '79 Revolution and the Iran of today is even more tragic. It also helps the reader who does not know the real history of the area to understand the deep mistrust and oftentimes hatred of the US and the UK that can be found in some Iranian circles. Sometimes is hard to think them wrong. It is tragic to see that had the US taken a different path, the history of the Middle East could have been different.
BUT, and it's a big but, de Bellaigue does not tell an one-sided story. He criticizes Mossadegh on many occasions and points out on others how his behavior helped, in the end, the positions taken by the US and the British. Had he been more politically able on the international scene, he could have helped his cause a lot.
So it is a balanced book, which gives praise and criticism on the right places. It does not make an excuse for anything that came after or during that time. That the author has real experience living in Tehran is a welcome bonus, since some books about this period have been written by people with fairly limited real experience of Iran.... Read more ›
The British do not, of course, come out of it looking good, neither do the Americans, who even going against the advice of some of its own more enlightened foreign service men, lets the British fool them into a coup that did not benefit American interests. That it later led to the '79 Revolution and the Iran of today is even more tragic. It also helps the reader who does not know the real history of the area to understand the deep mistrust and oftentimes hatred of the US and the UK that can be found in some Iranian circles. Sometimes is hard to think them wrong. It is tragic to see that had the US taken a different path, the history of the Middle East could have been different.
BUT, and it's a big but, de Bellaigue does not tell an one-sided story. He criticizes Mossadegh on many occasions and points out on others how his behavior helped, in the end, the positions taken by the US and the British. Had he been more politically able on the international scene, he could have helped his cause a lot.
So it is a balanced book, which gives praise and criticism on the right places. It does not make an excuse for anything that came after or during that time. That the author has real experience living in Tehran is a welcome bonus, since some books about this period have been written by people with fairly limited real experience of Iran.... Read more ›
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Natacon
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Brilliantly put together.
Have read numerous books on Mossadegh but found this to be the most insightful. The focus on his family dynamics was excellent.
I'd definitely recommend anyone with an interest in Iran read this book.
Have read numerous books on Mossadegh but found this to be the most insightful. The focus on his family dynamics was excellent.
I'd definitely recommend anyone with an interest in Iran read this book.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I once sat at the edge of Lake Urmia and shared a drink and conversation with a man who was imprisoned because he supported Mossadegh. My companion loved America despite our role in taking down Iran's government. Patriot of Persia expanded my understanding of Mossadegh's frail humanity, without diminishing his importance. He was ready to disagree with us. There was a time that we didn't tolerate that. This book packages a warning in a well written history lesson.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
How Britain and the United States Contributed to the Current State of Affairs in Iran
January 3, 2013
By Lorraine
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Read this book if you are interested in understanding the role that the U.S. and Britain played in creating the devepment of the current grovernment in Iran. The book reviews the life of the man who championed Democracy in Iran and who was subsequently undermined by forces in the West. A compelling read.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Al Shaikoli
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Very informative. Showed how naivety and stubbornest of a decent man paved the road for pushing Iran into the abyss of dark ages. The book give more credit to UK than USA in leading the coup. It clearly described tipping points in the history of a three nations, i.e.
1. USA turning into the international Police;
2. UK becoming a 2nd rated world power;
3. And Iran starting the long walk toward to abyss.
1. USA turning into the international Police;
2. UK becoming a 2nd rated world power;
3. And Iran starting the long walk toward to abyss.
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Brilliantly written. Have read numerous books about Mossadegh but found this to be the best. Highly recommend to anyone with an interest in Iran and hopefully soon the book’ ll translate to Farsi for Iranians. Great Job Dr. Christopher De Bellaigue.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The wrong enemy
As usual US foreign policy was shortsighted, frivolous and brutal. We didn't know what we were doing or why. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Cleveland Moffett
4.0 out of 5 stars
Persia a Microcosm of Arrogance and Ignorance
A must read for American Patriots who believe that we are the "City on the Hill" and a shining example for all the world. We need to learn!!! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Peter J. Piaseckyj
4.0 out of 5 stars
A must read
Am part way through it. I 'm just delighted that a capable writer has finally chosen to write about this magnificent
and progressive leader. Read more
and progressive leader. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Odessa Hartgrave
4.0 out of 5 stars
Patriot of Persia
I like the book because it seems to be thorough and factual. I like the way the author has used a high vocabulary and sophisticated style. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Alice
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