About the Book

Shah of Shahs (Szachinszach in Polish) is a literary reportage from 1982 describing the fall of the regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in Iran and the Islamic Revolution of 1978–1979.

Historical Context

Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi ruled Iran from 1941 to 1979. His reign was marked by the modernisation of the country, but also by authoritarianism and repression of the opposition. The Islamic Revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini overthrew the monarchy and established the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Narrative Structure

The book describes the events preceding the revolution, the course of the popular uprising, and the first days after the Shah’s overthrow. Kapuściński was an eyewitness to many of these events.

Themes

• The mechanisms of social revolution
• The role of religion in politics
• Social resistance to dictatorship
• SAVAK — the Shah’s secret police
• The confrontation between tradition and modernity

The Title

Shahanshah is a Persian term meaning “king of kings” — the title used by the rulers of Persia.

Significance

The book is an analysis not only of a specific revolution, but of the universal mechanisms behind the fall of authoritarian regimes.

Polish Editions

See the list of Polish editions of Shah of Shahs with ISBN numbers.