Neither East Nor West by Christiane Bird
A fusion of eloquent travelogue, historical inquiry, unforgettable portraits of people and interviews with Iranians from all walks of life, NEITHER EAST NOR WEST is a landmark contribution to both travel writing and cultural studies, as well as a timely illumination of an enthralling nation deeply misunderstood by Westerners. Bird, who spent several years of her early childhood in Iran, sets out to write a safarnameh- the Persian word for travelogue or, literally, travel letter- but soon delivers much more. In describing the sights, sounds and overall tenor of life in Iran today, she helps to break through the silence that has surrounded the country's culture, as opposed to its politics, for nearly twenty years. Bird's travels take her from the sacred pilgramage site of Mashhad, visited by more than 12 million Shi'ites every year, to the haunting, isolated valley of Alamut, once home to the legendary cult of Assassins. She visits mosques, public baths, Khomeini's former home and a Caspian sea resort; she attends prayer meetings and a horse racing meet. Along the way, she talks to everyone from muleteers to ayatollahs, Kurds to Turkomans, Westernised Iranians to Traditional Iranians- many of whom invite her home for dinner or a cup of tea.
'The product of a generous heart and a watchful eye' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
Christiane Bird is the author of The Jazz and Blues Lover's Guide to the U.S. and New York Handbook, and a co-author of Below the Line: Living Poor in America. A graduate of Yale University and a former travel writer for the New York Daily News, she lives in New York City.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780671027568 |
| ISBN 10 | 0671027565 |
| Title | Neither East Nor West |
| Author | Christiane Bird |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Atria Books |
| Year published | 2002-07-15 |
| Number of pages | 416 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |