A stirring, intimate novel inspired by the life of Marina’s paternal grandmother.
Born into the elegant comfort of upper-class Russian society at the turn of the twentieth century, Zina yearns for independence and a life she can call her own. After the Bolsheviks topple the Czarist government, she narrowly escapes with her husband and adopted daughter. But once they arrive in Tehran, tragedy strikes again, and she finds herself alone and impoverished.
At a modest boarding house, Zina must start over. There she meets women from Russia and Iran—outsiders like her, seeking refuge. They support one another through childbirth, illness, political unrest, and a pandemic. Amid the turmoil, Zina’s path crosses that of the ambitious Reza Khan, future shah of Iran. Their relationship becomes a welcome escape, enduring decades of hardship and sorrow before culminating in a heart-wrenching climax.
Sweeping, tender, and unforgettable, Mistress of the Persian Boarding House is a moving portrait of the enduring bonds forged between women who choose each other as family.
Genre: Historical
Born into the elegant comfort of upper-class Russian society at the turn of the twentieth century, Zina yearns for independence and a life she can call her own. After the Bolsheviks topple the Czarist government, she narrowly escapes with her husband and adopted daughter. But once they arrive in Tehran, tragedy strikes again, and she finds herself alone and impoverished.
At a modest boarding house, Zina must start over. There she meets women from Russia and Iran—outsiders like her, seeking refuge. They support one another through childbirth, illness, political unrest, and a pandemic. Amid the turmoil, Zina’s path crosses that of the ambitious Reza Khan, future shah of Iran. Their relationship becomes a welcome escape, enduring decades of hardship and sorrow before culminating in a heart-wrenching climax.
Sweeping, tender, and unforgettable, Mistress of the Persian Boarding House is a moving portrait of the enduring bonds forged between women who choose each other as family.
Genre: Historical
Praise for this book
"In Mistress of the Persian Boarding House, I was transported from the elegant drawing rooms of 1914 Russia to the wild and sometimes harsh beauty of post-war Iran. In pre-revolution Russia, Zina has lived a life of innocent privilege, but the realities of the Bolshevik uprising catch up with her family with truly heartbreaking consequences. Her innocence shattered, she is exiled and is delivered into the arms of Irina, mistress of a boarding house in Tehran. It is here that Zina truly becomes a woman of both bravery and heart - and fosters a community of women during a season of great change in the country she now calls home. Motherhood, politics, love, and sisterhood are transformative forces in this compelling story, based on the author's grandmother. Mesmerizing and intimate, this novel sweeps you away into a past that seems even more relevant today, and with one of my favourite themes: women helping other women. A gripping, must-read for our times." - Donna Jones Alward
"The question is how to live with grace in a world of torment. I was enchanted by Nemat's characters, who manage to create family and love in the loss and alienation of exile. Set in Iran and Russia, this timely novel gives us insight into turbulent politics and how women survive. It is a history of the soul in miniature. It is a beautiful read." - Kim Echlin
"'A sweeping yet intimate story about the human cost at the heart of some of recent history's most violent and devastating events. Written in . . . beautiful and tender prose, I could not put this down. It is an extraordinary novel, one of strength, resilience, and the most incredible spirit. Historical, and yet extremely relevant to modern times." - Lori Inglis Hall
"The question is how to live with grace in a world of torment. I was enchanted by Nemat's characters, who manage to create family and love in the loss and alienation of exile. Set in Iran and Russia, this timely novel gives us insight into turbulent politics and how women survive. It is a history of the soul in miniature. It is a beautiful read." - Kim Echlin
"'A sweeping yet intimate story about the human cost at the heart of some of recent history's most violent and devastating events. Written in . . . beautiful and tender prose, I could not put this down. It is an extraordinary novel, one of strength, resilience, and the most incredible spirit. Historical, and yet extremely relevant to modern times." - Lori Inglis Hall
Visitors also looked at these books
Used availability for Marina Nemat's Mistress of the Persian Boarding House