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King of Kings

The Fall of the Shah, the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the Unmaking of the Modern Middle East

Format: Hardback
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NYP

A spellbinding narrative history of the 1979 Iranian Revolution and its devastating consequences by the Sunday Times bestselling author of Lawrence in Arabia.

'Authoritative, well-reported and elegantly written... If you want to understand the turmoil in Gaza, Syria and beyond, the Iranian Revolution of 1979 is a good place to start.'
Robbie Millen, The Times

'The most compelling account yet of the revolution in Iran... Outstanding'
Eugene Rogan, author of The Fall of the Ottomans

‘A must-read for anyone looking to understand the origins of the Middle East’s most dangerous regime’
Joby Warrick, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Black Flags

'Thrilling... the gold standard account of the Shah’s fall... An epic and heart-breaking tragedy'
Azadeh Moaveni, author of Guest House for Young Widows

Before the revolution, the Shah of Iran seemed invincible. The world watched in awe as he commanded a huge army and oversaw an economy awash with billions of dollars of oil revenues. The regime’s secret police had crushed communist opposition and the Shah appeared to have bought off the conservative Muslim clergy inside the country. On the international stage, Iran had become an invaluable ally to the West during the Cold War.

But village streets spoke of a different country – people derided the Shah as an American lackey and blamed him for economic inequality, for spending recklessly on lavish parties and for ignoring the Muslim majority. When a volcanic religious revolution erupted, led by a fiery cleric named Ayatollah Khomeini, the Shah was forced off the throne and into exile. How did it all go so wrong?

Brilliantly brought to life by the Sunday Times bestselling author Scott Anderson, this gripping behind-the-scenes narrative reveals how the Iranian Revolution was as world-shattering an event as the French and Russian revolutions, and how its repercussions are still felt around the world today. In the Middle East, in India, in Southeast Asia, and now in Europe and the United States, the hatred of economically-marginalized, religiously-fervent masses for a wealthy secular elite has led to violence and upheaval – and Iran was the template.

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Authors:
Anderson, Scott
Year Published:
2025
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Format:
Hardback
ISBN:
9781529155266
Number of Pages:
512
Publication Date:
07/08/2025
Publisher:
Cornerstone
Language:
English
SKU:
9781529155266

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