Culture and Customs of Iran

(Hardback)

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Iran is often a hotspot in the news, and the Muslim state is usually negatively portrayed in the West. Culture and Customs of Iran rejects facile stereotyping and presents the rich, age-old Persian culture that struggles with pressures of the modern world. This is the first volume in English to reveal the important sociocultural facets of Iran today for a general audience in an objective fashion. Authoritative, substantive narrative chapters cover the gamut of topics, from religion and religious thought to Iranian cuisine and festivals.

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This survey of Iran (aimed at students and general readers) covers the contemporary life of the country within a historical context. Daniel and Mahdi discuss the land and people; religions; literature and language; drama and cinema; architecture; carpets and the history of weaving; food and dining; family, women, marriage, and gender relations; holidays, festivals, and events; and Persian music and dance. Only limited coverage of sports, dress, painting, ceramics, and metalwork is provided. B&W photos are included. * Reference & Research Book News *

Author Bio

Elton L. Daniel is professor of history at the University of Hawaii, author of The History of Iran (Greenwood, 2000), and associate editor of Encyclopaedica Iranica. Ali Akbar Mahdi is professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Ohio Wesleyan University, author of several books on Iran, and editor of Teen Life in the Middle East (Greenwood, 2003).