"A compelling biography. Bellaigue.writes with economy and a lightly ironic touch.The result is a three-dimensional profile of Mossadegh that contrasts sharply with the heroic democrat mythologized by his supporters." -- Wall Street Journal "Economist Tehran correspondent de Bellaigue uses plenty of local insight to provide general readers with an intriguing combination of biography, history and strategic study." -- Kirkus Reviews ".superbly researched." -- Huffington Post ".
a major strength of the book is that it does not seek to lionize the protagonist." -- Washington Independent Review of Books "Brilliant.A sweeping new biography.also a rich portrait of Iran amid the revolutionary upheaval of anti-colonial reform movements.-the antecedent, in many ways, of today's Middle East uprisings." -- The Daily ".thanks to veteran journalist Christopher de Bellaigue's brisk, engaging 300-page biography, Mossadegh's strange personality and at times baffling motives come into clearer focus." -- The Daily Beast "A timely book.
elegantly written.feels both fresh and relevant.highlights the dangers of a foreign policy that ignores the perceptions of those with memories longer than our own." -- The Guardian "Superbly timed.portrays some fascinating, and often farcical, stories of political life in Iran" -- Independent "Compelling. the West has handled its relationship with Iran as badly as possible. we have little leverage with its people.de Bellaigue's book goes far to explain why.
" -- Max Hastings, Sunday Times (London) "De Bellaigue's book is unsurpassed as a rounded portrait of Mossadegh." -- Times Literary Supplement (London) "Authoritative.a politically astute biography" -- Pankaj Mishra, London Review of Books "Portrayed by Bellaigue as a classic tragic hero.the book presents a nuanced portrait of an enigmantic man whose brilliance and fairmindedness fatally collided with his pride and rigidity." -- Tara Bahrampour, Washington Post "Brilliant.deft.De Bellaigue, fluent in Farsi, draws on previously unused Iranian sources to bring Mossadegh to vivid life.De Bellaigue's powerful portrait is also a timely reminder that further Western recklessness toward Iran.
would only pile tragedy upon tragedy." -- Roger Cohen, New York Review of Books.