"Without simplifying or sensationalizing, this book captures the twists and turns of the last two centuries of Iranian history. It is a perfect introduction for anyone wishing to venture beyond the headlines to understand Iran."Houchang E. Chehabi, Boston University
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director for the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews. He is a Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2016. A regular contributor to the international media on political developments in Iran, he has also published widely on Iranian history.