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Rating: 
Summary: A facinating history of a 19th Century King of Persia
Review: My compliments to Professor Amanat on this incredible book on the reign of Nasir al- Din Shah Qajar of Iran. What a refreshing new look on this Qajar ruler. Although Professor Amanat's book concentrates on the first half of Nasir al-Din's monarchy, his work is of great historical and academic value to Iranian history. Since the dawn of the Pahlavi Dynasty in the 1920's, Nasir al-Din has always been presented in a vacuum, by a resume style listing of events in his political career. These highlights of Nasir al-Din Shah's monarchy have shaped the popular understanding of this ruler. Most importantly, the killing of, Mirza Taqi Farahani (Amir Kabir), his disliked mother (Malik Jahan, Mahd `Ulya), Nuri, his unpopular premier, the Herat military campaign, the Anglo-Iranian War, the Babi suppression (Baha-i Koshi), foreign intervention in domestic affairs, obsession with Malijak (Aziz-al- sultan), the tobacco concession, and his assassination in 1896. In this book, we finally get to understand Nasir al-Din by learning about his childhood, his world, and his time. What one learns from reading Professor Amanat's book is that ruling Persia during the age of Europe's Imperial expansion, industrialization, and modernization, Nasir al-Din was able to prove himself quite effectively as an astute diplomat. What he lacked in military might, he made up for in diplomatic wit, playing the great powers against one another (namely Britain and Russia). What has never been acknowledged about him prior to this book is that he fared quite well in his attempt to assure Iranian territorial integrity and independence (preventing the partitioning of Iran). Professor Amanat does not in any way put Nasir al-Din at par with Peter the Great, Nadir Shah, or Napoleon. He simply fills the vacuum surrounding the psyche, environment, and the character of this King, and presents the reader with a fresh new look on the Nasir-i era. This book is objective and focused on preserving history. It has not re-written history, it has contributed to it greatly. Having read this book, I still do not believe Nasir al-Din was by any measure a great king. In fact his religious beliefs, rooted in predestination, repeatedly resigned him to accept that which was quite unacceptable. Nasir al-Din's personal hero, Peter the Great of Russia, was never as docile as he was. Peter reformed, built, and strengthened his country, while Nasir al-Din Shah, at best, preserved the status quo. As for his capital modernization attempts, the introduction of the telegraph, the purchasing of the four cannon ship Persepolis, and the five mile long railway from Tehran to Shah `Abd al-`Azim, were too little for a reign of 48 years to win him great praise. Great reform at times of weakness is indeed a historical possibility. Peter The Great of Russia set such an example prior to Nasir al-Din, as well as Mustafa Kemal Ataturk of Turkey, two decades after him. Change is facilitated through effective leadership. Let us never forget the praise given to Ataturk when it was written that "the will of the believer, become the creator of miracles." I recommend Professor Amanat's book highly to anyone interested in history, biography, or nineteenth century imperialism. I give his book five GIANT stars and hope that the professor writes another book covering the second half of Nasir al-Din's reign.
Rating:
Summary: History revisited, improved, but not tampered with. Bravo!
Review: My compliments to Professor Amanat on this incredible book on the reign of Nasir al- Din Shah Qajar of Iran. What a refreshing new look on this Qajar ruler. Although Professor Amanat's book concentrates on the first half of Nasir al-Din's monarchy, his work is of great historical and academic value to Iranian history. Since the dawn of the Pahlavi Dynasty in the 1920's, Nasir al-Din has always been presented in a vacuum, by a resume style listing of events in his political career. These highlights of Nasir al-Din Shah's monarchy have shaped the popular understanding of this ruler. Most importantly, the killing of, Mirza Taqi Farahani (Amir Kabir), his disliked mother (Malik Jahan, Mahd 'Ulya), Nuri, his unpopular premier, the Herat military campaign, the Anglo-Iranian War, the Babi suppression (Baha-i Koshi), foreign intervention in domestic affairs, obsession with Malijak (Aziz-al- sultan), the tobacco concession, and his assassination in 1896. In this book, we finally get to understand Nasir al-Din by learning about his childhood, his world, and his time. What one learns from reading Professor Amanat's book is that ruling Persia during the age of Europe's Imperial expansion, industrialization, and modernization, Nasir al-Din was able to prove himself quite effectively as an astute diplomat. What he lacked in military might, he made up for in diplomatic wit, playing the great powers against one another (namely Britain and Russia). What has never been acknowledged about him prior to this book is that he fared quite well in his attempt to assure Iranian territorial integrity and independence (preventing the partitioning of Iran). Professor Amanat does not in any way put Nasir al-Din at par with Peter the Great, Nadir Shah, or Napoleon. He simply fills the vacuum surrounding the psyche, environment, and the character of this King, and presents the reader with a fresh new look on the Nasir-i era. This book is objective and focused on preserving history. It has not re-written history, it has contributed to it greatly. Having read this book, I still do not believe Nasir al-Din was by any measure a great king. In fact his religious beliefs, rooted in predestination, repeatedly resigned him to accept that which was quite unacceptable. Nasir al-Din's personal hero, Peter the Great of Russia, was never as docile as he was. Peter reformed, built, and strengthened his country, while Nasir al-Din Shah, at best, preserved the status quo. As for his capital modernization attempts, the introduction of the telegraph, the purchasing of the four cannon ship Persepolis, and the five mile long railway from Tehran to Shah 'Abd al-'Azim, were too little for a reign of 48 years to win him great praise. Great reform at times of weakness is indeed a historical possibility. Peter The Great of Russia set such an example prior to Nasir al-Din, as well as Mustafa Kemal Ataturk of Turkey, two decades after him. Change is facilitated through effective leadership. Let us never forget the praise given to Ataturk when it was written that "the will of the believer, become the creator of miracles." I recommend Professor Amanat's book highly to anyone interested in history, biography, or nineteenth century imperialism. I give his book five GIANT stars and hope that the professor writes another book covering the second half of Nasir al-Din's reign.
Rating:
Summary: A facinating history of a 19th Century King of Persia
Review: Such insight and dedication to perfection is difficult to find. This is a fascinating book on the life of a Qajar Monarch that ruled Persia for one half of the 19th century. You will learn a great deal about how the era of industrial colonialism pushed an otherwise mighty and ancient empire into a defensive position that just keeping the nation in one piece became a major accomplishment. The life of the Nassir Al-Din Shah Qajar is so well depicted in this book that you live in 19th century Iran while reading it. A scholarly work of history by Professor Amanat that is a true contribution to Middle Eastern, Russian, and British History.
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