Reviews
Beautifully written and immensely readable.... Aslan meticulously weaves Iranian-US relations with palace intrigue, Russian and British designs on Persia, and heart-stopping accounts of battles between the forces of democracy and autocracy--some seventy years before another Iranian revolution grabbed the attention of the west., A remarkable history that echoes to this day, with much to teach us about modern Iran and about ourselves. Read this book and be reminded of the common humanity that can transcend even our own cavernous divides., A rip-roaring tale of a fascinating time in history... Aslan's vivid storytelling evokes an intriguing cast of courtiers, clerics, desperados and idealists., Reza Aslan's An American Martyr in Persia is a stirring reminder of the power of idealism, hope, and courage in the face of tyranny and injustice. The story of Howard Baskerville is as important today as it was in his lifetime, and Aslan's lucid prose and compelling narrative introduces him to a new generation who will find inspiration in his deeds., Replete with fascinating asides into the revolutionary politics of the era and the complex dynamics between Russia, England, and Persia, this is a provocative portrait of an unsung American hero., An engrossing, entertaining, evocative, and unexpectedly cinematic story, a pleasure to read in that specific way where it's impossible not to imagine the movie or ten-episode series in your head as you go. For both the facts of the story and Aslan's unique ability to merge literary flourish with accessible scholarship and historical deep-dives, it's a page-turner the likes of which are rarely produced in the historical biography genre. For its filling of a major gap in the library of geopolitical history, its resonance with the present-day strife in Iran, its echoes of other historical political battlelines in the region, and its celebration of how sincere faith of any denomination can inform a more noble and humanistic view of international relations, it's required reading., An astonishing story that underscores the power of biography. In Reza Aslan's lyrical voice, Howard Baskerville's short life comes alive as a fantastical fairy tale--a wild and improbable adventure story. [Aslan] reminds us that Iran's revolution is quite simply unfinished., Reza Aslan has a unique talent for showing how piety and politics can merge, or quarrel, in the hearts of people. An American Martyr in Persia is a fascinating and thoroughly engrossing biography. A triumph., An astonishing story that underscores the power of biography. In Reza Aslan's lyrical voice, Howard Baskerville's short life comes alive as a fantastical fairy tale--a wild and improbable adventure story. But it is all true. Missionary, teacher, soldier and American idealist, Baskerville becomes the Marquis de Lafayette of the 1909 Iranian Constitutional revolution... Aslan's vivid story-telling reminds us that Iran's revolution is quite simply unfinished. The young American martyr of the 1909 revolution remains an inspiration for those Persians who still resist theocracy.--Kai Bird, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, historian and director of the Leon Levy Center for Biography Beautifully written and immensely readable story of the first Americans in Iran, and of their Iranian contemporaries who fashioned the Muslim world's first constitution. Aslan meticulously weaves Iranian-U.S. relations with palace intrigue, Russian and British designs on Persia, and heart-stopping accounts of battles between the forces of democracy and autocracy--some seventy years before another Iranian revolution grabbed the attention of the west.--Hooman Majd author of The Ayatollah Begs to Differ, Aslan has rediscovered the tale of one of the most fascinating and enigmatic figures of the early twentieth century.... [This story] is a poignant reminder of the extraordinary affinity that historically existed between the peoples of Iran and the United States and raises the hope that this closeness might someday be kindled anew., Great read, thoughtful and thought provoking. We must all pay attention to Reza Aslan's timely reminder that 'the suffering of any person anywhere is the responsibility of all peoples everywhere.'
