Crimson Ink: A Novel of Modern Iran - 1955 - 2011

by Gail Madjzoub

Overview

Against the background of a 1955 village massacre that haunts & shapes 2 families for decades, through the 1979 Revolution and beyond, Fereshteh, a woman physician, struggles to use her skills to help victims of domestic violence, the regime’s worsening human rights violations, and its merciless subjugation of women. Then in 2009, the discovery of an appalling truth behind both the village massacre and her sister’s arrest converges with the brutal aftermath of the post-presidential election crackdown. Fereshteh’s decisions put her on a collision course with three powerful men, themselves forged in the fire of events beyond their control. This is a novel of “constructive resilience” in the face of adversity, and of hope, faith and the determination to persevere.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781777045203
Publisher:	Gail Madjzoub
Publication date:	02/01/2020
Pages:	446
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.99(d)

Table of Contents

Map of Iran viii

Family Trees ix

Family Trees x

BOOK ONE xi

Prologue p1

The Families Jalili and Hashemi

Chapter 1 p11

Chapter 2 p29

Chapter 3 p45

The Family Rahimi

Chapter 4 p63

Chapter 5 p75

The Family Omidvar

Chapter 6 p83

Chapter 7 p93

BOOK TWO p98

The Families Jalili and Hashemi

Chapter 8 p101

Chapter 9 p110

Chapter 10 p117

Chapter 11 p131

Chapter 12 p140

The Family Rahimi

Chapter 13 p149

Chapter 14 p154

The Family Omidvar

Chapter 15 p159

BOOK THREE p161

The Families Jalili and Hashemi

Chapter 16 p165

Chapter 17 p182

The Family Rahimi

Chapter 18 p193

Chapter 19 p196

The Family Omidvar

Chapter 20 p203

Chapter 21 p205

BOOK FOUR p210

The Families Jalili, Hashemi, and Omidvar

Chapter 22 p213

Chapter 23 p218

Chapter 24p 225

Chapter 25 p229

The Family Rahimi

Chapter 26 p237

BOOK FIVE p240

2009

Chapter 27 p243

Chapter 28 p260

Chapter 29 p268

2010

Chapter 30 p287

2011

Chapter 31 p307

Chapter 32 p330

Chapter 33 p356

Chapter 34 p375

Chapter 35 p405

Glossary p417

Persian Words and Phrases p423

Select References for further reading p427

Acknowledgments p429

About the Author p433

Editorial Reviews

"A powerful and well-written story... (that) spans decades and generations... show(ing) how family perspectives and values are passed down... and impact.. the choices an individual makes while living his/her life. Another strength of the book is that it provides good insight into Persian culture... but not just a depiction of culture, but rather an explication of how economic, political, gender-based, and religious power and belief systems have intertwined and reinforced each other to create a violent totalitarian state..... how power seduces individual men into becoming weapons for maintaining and enhancing their...mission...and are rewarded economically and with positions of authority... (It) show(s) how religious doctrine and unquestioning obedience to it is used to motivate and excuse escalating genocidal violence... (The) representation of nuances in the antagonistic characters, showing how they are shaped by circumstance and opportunity is a particular strength of the book... (The) book tells a complex, layered story very well..."

(Judith Lapadat, a former VP (Students) & Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Education, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada)

"While telling a thrilling story of historical fiction this novel includes examples of a unique approach in response to human rights violations. This, which has been termed constructive resilience, is not only non-violent but also non-adversarial... The author displays an extraordinary writing ability in this elegantly constructed book. The story line is captivating and, at the same time, presents challenging moral issues and spiritual insights. Reading the book has been a deeply moving and inspiring experience. I warmly recommend it to others." (Paul Ojermark, MSc; Managing Director, Publishing; Director & Senior International Consultant, Education & Sustainable Development)

From the Publisher