While I looked at the book at Amazon I found an interesting review that has some bearing on our discussion:
Also, because this book has been written by a woman and because I am a Iranian woman myself, I cannot complete this review without drawing a comparative reference between the status of the Iranian women during the Qajar times, during the Pahlavi Era and where we are today some 25 years after the departure of the Pahlavi dynasty. Women were essentially no more than common slaves or baby factories during the Qajar period. The Qajar Kings, apart from being grossly incompetent in terms of running the country, never demonstrated any tendency towards progressing the women's rights or status within their kingdom. On the contrary, they all had their vast Harems where much like today's Saudi Arabia, they had literally hundreds of wives, concubines and several hundred children (some of which were their own and others were the courtesy of their kind, supportive and thoughtful court employees). In those days, nepotism was rife of course and every one of these Qajar children (whether rightful or mostly of the courtesy variety) use to be given government posts which anywhere else in the world would have been reserved for experienced and highly qualified civil servants. Mohamed Mossadegh was one of these children who much like his other siblings was give put in charge of the finances of the Khorassan province (15% of Iranian land mass) at the age of 8 (Eight). Against this background, one of the first acts of Reza Pahlavi, the hungry army Soldier who saw no option but to wrap up the Qajar's crooked show was women's emancipation. He started with the women in his own family and then immediately extended this right to every other Iranian woman. He also began the process of changing the country's laws allowing women to have a greater say in the society. This process was continued by his son who also secured voting rights for Iranian women and actively encouraged their education. All of this progress simply came to a halt and was then dramatically reversed after the 1979 revolution.
Oh wow! I never saw that review. But like the reviewer I’ve read Farah’s book a few times.
I also think it is an extremely valid point the reviewer raises about the Qajar dynasty. Everything the Pahlavis did including their achievements must also be put in the context of where Iran was at as the late Shah’s father took over from the Qajars. Yes, the Qajar dynasty was shameful. Thanks for highlighting it!
I might add something in defense of Farah not writing much about the Qajars. Obviously it was “her memoirs” therefore the objective of the book was mostly to focus on those aspects that she, personally, was familiar with. She does write a few paragraphs here and there about the Qajars, but, true, perhaps there could’ve been a more detailed analysis and reference to the Qajars. Although the late Shah’s mother (Queen mother) was in fact a Qajar princess; so, a bit of sensitivity there too for Farah to point the finger at the Qajars.