This is the first article in the TL;DR section. These will be published sporadically, becoming a library over time that underpins the geopolitical and technological currents covered in the feature essays on the Home Page.
The most salient book on revolutionary Iran and its civilizational depth.
The Mantle of the Prophet: Religion and Politics in Iran. By Roy P. Mottahedeh (1985)
“Mysticism, the ambiguity of poetry, belief in the many-faced subtlety of evil and the never fully resolved choice between the roles of hedonistic cynic and selfless devotee have created the great interior spaces in which the Iranian soul has breathed and survived over at least half a millennium.”
p. 144
The Read
The Mantle of the Prophet traces the history of Iran through the lens of an Islamic cleric who left the country after the revolution. Ali Hashemi is the name the author, Roy Mottahedeh, used for him. Interspersed in his experiences from childhood to adulthood are historical vignettes from throughout the 20th century that led up to the Islamic revolution, including the tug-and-pull of nationalism, imperialism, and monarchial rule.
This is a dense read, extremely detailed across all scenes. It is expertly written on the subject, and when it was released in 1985, it became a ‘starter’ book in many university courses. Notable in the book is the interplay between clerics and nationalist revolutionaries from the constitutional revolution in 1906 through the 1950s, and then into the 1970s.
Between the Lines
The book has retained its relevance after all these years. Roy Motahedeh drew heavily on Hossein Modarressi, who came to Princeton as a scholar and has remained a professor. The history that is covered feels very authentic and authenticated. Unlike many books today, it does not descend into a simplistic overview of U.S.-Iran relations or into pithy phrases written for the average reader. The academic weight, combined with Hashemi’s personal perspective, makes you feel as if you are in Iran, immersed in its civilizational tapestry.
Long or Short?
Go long on The Mantle of the Prophet. It is well worth the read – but it will take you multiple sittings. Keep The Mantle, on your mantle.