From a Persian Tea House: Travels in Old Iran [Paperback]

Michael Carroll (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 30, 2007

An evocative and beautifully written account of Michael Carroll's journey to Iran that took him through the heart of the country -- from the Taurus mountains to the Gulf of Oman, during the years following the CIA-led coup of 1953. He explores countless mosques, tombs and palaces, goes in pursuit of an elusive dervish and bargains for Silk Road jade and carpets. The narrative is adorned with colorful episodes from Iran's long history and with amusing anecdotes that complement and enrich Carroll's travels in a country that has since changed beyond all recognition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mr Carroll is a born traveller. He is hungry for strangeness. He is tough without being coarse; amused and unpretentious. Above all he can write." -- The Observer

"The romance of the book is the traditional romance of a perceptive young man, happy to soak himself in the life of a foreign country and evoke it with rich, descriptive writing." -- The New Statesman

"He has a natural gift of writing and especially for translating the observations of a quick eye into a telling phrase." -- Times Literary Supplement

"Describes all he saw and experienced in the most entrancing detail and with great good humour. A lovely, gracious book." -- Press and Journal

"A travel writer of rare charm and perception. His travels reveal observation combined with sympathy, persistence with humour." -- Western Mail

About the Author

Michael Carroll was born in England in 1935. He was educated at Harrow and Cambridge, but spent much of his early life in India. While at Cambridge, he travelled widely on the continent during holidays. He is also author of Gates of the Wind, the story of his time spent on the Greek island of Skopelos.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Tauris Parke Paperbacks (October 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1845115007
• ISBN-13: 978-1845115005
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,586,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Travel > Middle East > Iran

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grab a cup of tea and prepare for a great story!, April 14, 2008

By 

Aaron Shutt (Jackson, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: From a Persian Tea House: Travels in Old Iran (Paperback)

"From a Persian Tea House" is an elegantly written account of traveling in Iran when the Shah was still in power. Michael Carroll weaves humorous anecdotes, rich descriptions, and powerful dialogue to provide a look at Iranian society and culture in the 1950s. My favorite part of the book would have to be the opening scene at the beginning of the first chapter. He describes the tea house in the morning, with the sunlight playing on the ancient stones, the sleepy-eyed men sipping tea, and the stillness of the new day. To give you an idea of how intriguing this book is, I started looking for plane tickets to Iran as soon as I finished it! Sadly, the Iran described here is a much different place today.