The fall of the powerful Safavid Dynasty (1501-1722) to invading Afghan tribesmen in 1722 marked a crucial turning point in the country's history. Father Krusinski, Procurator-General of the Jesuit Mission and intermediary between the Papacy and the Safavid court, resided in Isfahan and was thus an eyewitness to the siege of the city. His account of the conditions and events preceding and during the siege and the subsequent demise of the Safavids is unique. It also offers key insights into the workings of the late Safavid state and government as well as the functions of the royal harem. This...