The Shah

Though his monarchy was toppled in 1979 and he died in 1980, the life of Mohammad-Reza Shah Pahlevi, the last Shah of Iran, continues to resonate today. Here, internationally respected author Abbas Milani gives us the definitive biography, more than ten years in the making, of the monarch who shaped Iran's modern age and with it the contemporary politics of the Middle East. The Shah's was a life filled with contradiction - as a social reformer he built schools, increased equality for women, and greatly reduced the power of the Shia clergy. He made Iran a global power, courting Western leaders from Churchill to Carter, and nationalized his country's many natural resources. But he was deeply conflicted and insecure in his powerful role. Intolerant of political dissent, he was eventually overthrown by the very people whose loyalty he so desperately sought. This comprehensive and gripping account shows us how Iran went from politically moderate monarchy to totalitarian Islamic republic. Milani reveals the complex and sweeping road that would bring the U.S. and Iran to where they are today. "The definitive biography... the scholarship is impressive" -- "The Washington Times" "A finely wrought, enlightening biography."-- "The Wall Street Journal"

"Splendidly detailed... [Milani] succeeds in turning out a thoughtful biography without rancor." --"The Chicago Tribune""Milani brings to us a whole new set of facts, culled from thousands of recently declassified British, American and Iranian documents and hundreds of interviews, making this book fresh and relevant to the current democracy movement in Iran and to U.S.-Iranian relations.""-- San Franscisco Chronicle""" "An incisive portrait of a deeply riven man and his country... A stimulating biography and a thorough examination of the makeup of an entire nation.""--Kirkus Reviews"

"A deeply researched portrait... The shah's private life, which included three wives, alleged mistresses, and extravagances in palaces and other riches, is effectively depicted. With sympathy born of a compassion for someone in over his head, Milani's meticulous amassing of facts establishes a base for readers to form their own opinions." --"Booklist"

"Milani interviewed many who were close to Pahlavi, and makes excellent use of archives and memoirs. The result is a comprehensive portrait of a man who modernized Iran--and in doing so ensured his own downfall." -- "Macleans"

"Abbas Milani brings to life the tragic figure of the late Shah of Iran... A refreshingly balanced biography!""-- Fawaz Gerges, author of Journey of the Jihadist and""Obama and the Middle East""For God's sake let us sit upon the ground/And tell sad stories of the death of kings." Shakespeare's words from Richard II are an apt invitation to this gripping biography of Mohammed Reza Shah. The Shah of Iran, Abbas Milani shows, was a tragic figure whose inner ghosts and deep personal flaws helped to destroy the hopes that were vested in him. His downfall ushered in a nightmare from which Iran and the rest of world has yet to awaken. Milani's detailed and richIntroduction The Flying Dutchman: Shah in Egypt and Morocco Early Childhood Days as Crown Prince Joyful Juvenilia: Crown Prince in Switzerland The Shadow of Patriarch: 1937 - 1941 Early Years on the Throne Azerbaijan and the Early Genesis of the Cold War The Shah and Mossadeq The CIA Coup Consolidation of Power: 1953 - 1960 The Kennedy Years: 1961 - 1963 The White Revolution: 1963 The Golden Years: 1964 - 1971 The Shah and the Politics of Oil The Perfect Spy: The Shah and the KGB The Carter Years The Revolution The Flying Dutchman