Though his monarchy was toppled in 1979 and he died in 1980, Mohammad-Reza Shah Pahlevi, the last Shah of Iran, remains relevant today. He was a social reformer, a romantic egomaniac, and a deeply conflicted man and leader. 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 - he built schools, increased equality for women, and greatly reduced the power of the Shia clergy. He made Iran a global power 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 United States and Iran to where they are today.

About the Author
Abbas Milani is an Iranian-American scholar, and author. He is the director of the Iranian Studies Program at Stanford University. He is also a research fellow and codirector of the Iran Democracy Project at the Hoover Institution. Milani has appeared on Anderson Cooper 360, Charlie Rose, PBS Newshour, and Hannity & Colmes.


Book Information
ISBN 9780230340381
Author Abbas Milani
Format Paperback
Page Count 496
Imprint Palgrave Macmillan
Publisher Palgrave Macmillan
Weight(grams) 536g
Dimensions(mm) 233mm * 155mm * 30mm