New York Times bestseller • Kirkus Prize winner • From the author of Lawrence of Arabia's bestselling book comes an astonishing historical narrative revealing the Iranian Revolution, one of the most important events of modern times.
This groundbreaking work reveals the U.S. government's stunning stupidity and traces the rise of religious nationalism, offering essential insights into today's global turmoil.On New Year's Eve 1977, President Jimmy Carter congratulated Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, hailing Iran as an “island of stability” thanks to “your leadership and the respect, admiration and love of your people.” The Shah, known as the King of Kings, seemed invincible, and was invaluable to the United States as a Cold War ally.Twelve and a half months later, the Shah fled Iran for exile, forced to abdicate by a powerful religious revolt led by a hardline cleric named Ayatollah Khomeini. How could the United States have been so oblivious?
Based on massive research and dozens of interviews, Scott Anderson weaves a captivating story of an oblivious dictator of contempt for his subjects and a superpower mired in disaster.
