Hazhir Teimourian
A Tale of Two Peoples
The Persians: Ancient, Medieval and Modern Iran
By Homa Katouzian
Yale University Press 442pp £30 order from our bookshop
Shah Abbas: The Ruthless King who Became an Iranian Legend
By David Blow
I B Tauris 278pp £14.99 order from our bookshop
The recent scenes on television of two types of Iranians clashing on the streets of Tehran have puzzled many. One type – those who protested against the blatantly rigged presidential election – appeared modern and demanded to be allowed to be part of the world as it is today. The other, the supporters of the clerics in power, had a medieval air about them. Each burned with hatred of the other.
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