Michael C. Hillmann is Professor of Persian at the University of Austin, Texas.

• Chapter 1 A Chronology of Iranian Culture Chapter 2 Iranian Patriarchy, Its Victims, and Persian Sadness Chapter 3 Perennial Iranian Skepticism, Individualism, and Dreams of Gardens Chapter 4 Persian Classicism, Aesthetics of Decoration, and Ambivalence Chapter 5 A Modernist Iranian Writer's Almost Inevitable Nightmare Chapter 6 Cultural Dilemmas of an Iranian Literary Intellectual Chapter 7 An Iranian Finally Speaks as a Woman and as an Individual Chapter 8 An Iranian Identity Crisis Past and Present

Michael Hillmann has put together a fairly extraordinary book. What gives Iranian Culture its peculiar tone and mark of distinction is the almost passionate love of his subject shown by the author. It fills a gap which has long existed in the field of Iranian Studies, the lack of an adequate text on Iranian culture both concise and yet meaningfully focused. World Literature Today Hillmann's apologia for the genius of Iran is an important, timely, and thought-provoking statement. CHOICE Hillmann's apologia for the genius of Iran is an important, timely, and thought-provoking statement. CHOICE Michael Hillmann has put together a fairly extraordinary book. What gives Iranian Culture its peculiar tone and mark of distinction is the almost passionate love of his subject shown by the author. It fills a gap which has long existed in the field of Iranian Studies, the lack of an adequate text on Iranian culture both concise and yet meaningfully focused. World Literature Today