A powerful story of friendship and passion, fear and hope – and a rare insider’s view of Iranian society
Massoumeh is an ordinary girl, passionate about learning. On her way to school she meets a local man and falls in love – but when her family discover his letters they accuse her of bringing them into dishonour, beat her and hastily arrange a marriage to a man she’s never met.
The years that follow Massoumeh’s wedding prove transformative for Iran. Her husband Hamid is a political dissident and when the secret service arrest him, it is the start of a terrifying period for Massoumeh. Her fate, so long dictated by family loyalty and tradition, is now tied to the changing fortunes of her country.
‘A powerful and personal look at Iranian society’ Grazia
‘Written with passion and anger from the inside, it’s a compelling account’ Independent on Sunday
‘Memorable and nuanced’ Guardian
The novel that became a huge bestseller in Iran, before it was banned by the government.
Reviews
This family saga shines a bright light on what it is like to live according [to] the expectations of family and society
Saniee has successfully pursued the perennial theme of the potentially explosive interaction between the individual and society, as well as the consequences of discrimination, intolerance and extremism
An ode to women, not just of Iran but of societies all over the world, who have had to struggle to get their basic rights
A powerful and personal look at Iranian society
Rarely can a novel have sustained such levels of emotion over so many gut-wrenching pages. It's a memorable and nuanced dissection of a patriarchal society
Written with passion and anger from the inside, it's a compelling account