The Root of Wild Madder: Chasing the History, Mystery, and Lore of the Persian Carpet [Hardcover]

Brian Murphy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 26, 2005

From the remote villages of Afghanistan and Iran, down the ancient trade routes travelled for centuries, to the bazaars of Tehran and the markets of the Western world, every Persian carpet has a story to tell. Coming from a region known for its instability, this art form is one of the few constants, transcending religious and political turmoil. Woven into Persian carpets are centuries-old mysteries of faith and humanity, whirled into colours, patterns and symbols that represent the key to understanding. Each carpet tells a story in its fibres and design and carries a deeper tale in its forgotten history and the anonymity of its maker. How can a man sell a carpet to feed his family when he believes the soul of his grandmother is borne up in its intricate knots? Carpets, as both art and commodity, represent basic survival as well as the search for human perfection. Told in exquisite prose befitting one of the world's loveliest art forms, THE ROOT OF WILD MADDER offers accessible explanations of the patterns, knots and origin of these carpets. From how to tell a quality carpet from a cheap copy to where the dyes come from (madder root provides red), the book presents practical information about carpets while exploring the artistic, religious and cultural complexities of this enigmatic region. Part travelogue and part exploration into the enduring mysteries of Persian carpets, THE ROOT OF WILD MADDER brings readers to far flung corners of the world that few Westerners will ever see in person.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Murphy, an AP religion reporter, presents his travels across the zone where Persian carpets are made in a diligent quest to understand them as both art and commodity. He immerses himself in carpet-making culture, accruing trade secrets and learning specialized vocabulary from Afghan and Iranian mentors. Murphy begins his journey in a Tehran bazaar stacked high with carpets before traveling to the ancient weaving center of Herat, in northwestern Afghanistan, arriving weeks after the fall of the Taliban. Visiting Shiraz, he's impressed by the untutored intellect of young illiterate girl weavers. At last he finds himself amid wild madder fields (madder is the source of Persian carpets' characteristic shade of red). Taking in dog fights, gruesome games of polo and disturbing scenes of child labor and poverty, Murphy tactfully emphasizes the warm hospitality, expertise and enterprise of his Iranian and Afghan hosts, providing extended biographies for some of them. His book exudes humility and respect for Islamic culture and a welcome eyewitness account of, and historical information about, a region much in the news. Nevertheless, the writing too often becomes pedestrian and unsatisfying in misguided efforts to be atmospheric. Map not seen by PW.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Murphy clarifies that madder is a plant with a root that is dried and ground into red powder to dye carpets. The precise origin of carpets is not known, but few places have nurtured the craft and artistry of carpets more than Iran. The author, who made frequent trips to Iran and Afghanistan from 1999 to 2004 to research the book, explains the patterns, knots, and origins of carpets and the history of this remote region, describing its hunger, war, hopelessness, and poverty. He tells how the men herd and shear the sheep, the women spin the wool, the men dye the wool, the women weave the carpet, and, finally, the men market the product. Murphy also describes how child labor is used in making the carpets. With eight pages of color photographs, this book is an engaging account of these colorful rugs. George Cohen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (July 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743264193
• ISBN-13: 978-0743264198
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,214,206 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Essence of Persian Carpets, August 6, 2005

By 

William R. Erwin (Durham, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Root of Wild Madder: Chasing the History, Mystery, and Lore of the Persian Carpet (Hardcover)

Nothing quite so enhances a space as an Oriental carpet, however humble or elegant. Carpets may enliven the spirit and mind as well, and here is the enduring significance of their art, never ending. After reading Brian Murphy's journey among them, newly begun, we join him in our own unending adventures.

There is a spirit to this book reaching out to both the novice and the collector. One also learns a lot about Iran and Afghanistan, their culture and history past and present. This book is an essence of Persia. Murphy was himself a novitiate as he takes us with him to meet carpet merchants, weavers, and dyers, urban and rural. He communicates a searching, often wide-eyed, innocence while meeting with myriad folk. He handles this contrast appealingly, rather as if we were with him, a style greatly effectuating what he wants to tell us. I and our carpets together, will never be the same.

This volume is also a welcome relief from the plainness of so many modern publications. The type styles, the look and feel of the paper, and the designs of the jacket, covers, and end papers are an aesthetic delight and most appropriate to the story.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Appreciation of Persian Rugs, April 16, 2006

By 

A. Clark "Book Club Member" (State College, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Root of Wild Madder: Chasing the History, Mystery, and Lore of the Persian Carpet (Hardcover)

By experiencing Brian Murphy's trip through Afghanistan and Iran and his search for answers to a number of questions he had and developed about the carpets and the people involved in making and selling them, I learned a great deal. I had no idea what I would learn would be so extensive and interesting. It was one of those books that I didn't want to end. Since the chances of my visiting there are slim, I really am thankful to have seen and experienced the people and culture through Murphy's eyes. His love of the rugs and the people are obvious to the reader, and he clearly wants to share what he knows and has experienced with others. I highly recommend reading this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative & personable - GREAT, September 28, 2006

By 

Fred "Fred M" (Turkey) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Root of Wild Madder: Chasing the History, Mystery, and Lore of the Persian Carpet (Hardcover)

I've been a carpet collector (primarily tribal piece) for well over 20 years; this book spoke to me as some carpets speak to me! I'm especially grateful for the quotes attributed to Hossein Payghambary of Nomad carpet shop in Isfahan. I rarely read a book more than once BUT this has drawn me to do so because of the rich text and the author's compassion for his subject. This is MUST read for anyone with a heart for carpets.