"This lively and varied collection of articles is classic Katouzian: analytical, erudite, and deeply learned, the product of a lifetime’s research. With remarkable breadth, the book ranges across everything from tax systems and revolutions to Islamic law, cultural criticism, modernist literature, and the wonders of Sa'di's poetry. Katouzian, arguably the last true great Iranshenas or Iranologist of his generation, offers a masterclass in interdisciplinary scholarship. For anyone interested in the history, society, and culture of modern Iran, this work is an essential read."Eskandar Sadeghi-Boroujerdi, University of York, United Kingdom