'In this meticulous and careful study, Tehran is no longer just a setting or even a contested site, but an almost living creature that shares in and shapes its inhabitants' lives and social transformations over time. This book is a gift from an insightful colleague who, though lost to us now, invites us to revisit our own work with fresh eyes and prods us towards new and productive lines of inquiry.' Camron Michael Amin, University of Michigan-Dearborn