Children of paradise the struggle for the soul of Iran Secor, Laura creator author. text bibliography History. nyu 2016 2016 monographic eng print xv, 508 pages : map ; 24 cm In 1979, seemingly overnight-- moving at a clip some thirty years faster than the rest of the world-- Iran became the first revolutionary theocracy in modern times. Since then, the country has been largely a black box to the West, a sinister presence looming over the horizon. But inside Iran, a breathtaking drama has unfolded since then, as religious thinkers, political operatives, poets, journalists, and activists have imagined and reimagined what Iran should be. They have drawn as deeply on the traditions of the West as of the East and have acted upon their beliefs with urgency and passion, frequently staking their lives for them.-- Revolution. Little black fish ; Islamic Republic ; The period of constant contemplation ; Baptism of blood -- Rebirth. Expansion and contraction ; Thermidor ; The second of Khordad -- Reform. The chain murders ; The eighteenth of Tir ; Master plans ; The miracle room ; The spider's house ; Postmortem -- Resistance. A common man ; Asieh ; The epic of dirt and dust ; The end of the dirty wars of intellectuals. Laura Secor. Includes bibliographical references (pages 470-494) and index. a-ir--- Iran Politics and government 1979-1997 Iran Politics and government 1997- Iran History 1979-1997 Iran History 1997- Iran Intellectual life 20th century Iran Intellectual life 21st century Intellectual life Politics and government Iran Since 1900 fast DS318.8 .S37 2016 955.05/4 9781594487101 : 1594487103 YDXCP 150514 20160309140241.0 in00003609206 eng