Khomeini's Ghost: The Iranian Revolution and the Rise of Militant Islam (2010)

From the bestselling author of __Saddam__ comes the definitive biography of Ayatollah Khomeini's Islamic revolution and how his fundamentalist legacy has forever influenced the course of Iran's relationship with the West. In February 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to Tehran after nearly fifteen years in exile and received a hero's welcome. Just as the new world order sought to purge the communist ideologies of the Cold War, the religious doctrine of Islamic fundamentalism emerged to pose an even greater threat to post–Iron Curtain stability—and Khomeini would mastermind it into a revolution. __Khomeini's Ghost__ is the account of how an impoverished young student from a remote area of southern Iran became the leader of one of the most dramatic upheavals of the modern age, and how his radical Islamic philosophy now lies at the heart of the modern-day conflict between Iran and the West. Con Coughlin draws on a wide variety of Iranian sources, including religious figures who knew and worked with Khomeini both in exile and in power. Both compelling and timely, __Khomeini's Ghost__ is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand what lies at the center of many of the world's most intractable conflicts.

From The Bestselling Author Of saddam Comes The Definitive Biography Of Ayatollah Khomeini's Islamic Revolution And How His Fundamentalist Legacy Has Forever Influenced The Course Of Iran's Relationship With The West.

In February 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini Returned To Tehran After Nearly Fifteen Years In Exile And Received A Hero's Welcome. Just As The New World Order Sought To Purge The Communist Ideologies Of The Cold War, The Religious Doctrine Of Islamic Fundamentalism Emerged To Pose An Even Greater Threat To Post–iron Curtain Stability—and Khomeini Would Mastermind It Into A Revolution.

khomeini's Ghost Is The Account Of How An Impoverished Young Student From A Remote Area Of Southern Iran Became The Leader Of One Of The Most Dramatic Upheavals Of The Modern Age, And How His Radical Islamic Philosophy Now Lies At The Heart Of The Modern-day Conflict Between Iran And The West. Con Coughlin Draws On A Wide Variety Of Iranian Sources, Including Religious Figures Who Knew And Worked With Khomeini Both In Exile And In Power.

both Compelling And Timely, khomeini's Ghost Is Essential Reading For Anyone Wishing To Understand What Lies At The Center Of Many Of The World's Most Intractable Conflicts.

publishers Weekly

coughlin (saddam) Offers A Serviceable Biography Of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (1902-1989), A Brief History Of His Reign And An Even Briefer History Of Iran In An Account That Is Regrettably Taciturn On His Continuing Influence. The Author Provides Ample Evidence That The Ayatollah's Agenda Was Always Radical, Though Khomeini Chose To Downplay It Before The Revolution; Coughlin Says That, In Fact, Khomeini [stole] The Revolution From Beneath The Nose Of The Very People Who Had Brought Him To Power, In Great Part Through The Creation Of The Revolutionary Guards. Coughlin Details The Bloody Chaos That Followed The Revolution, And The Ensuing Decades Of Bloodshed, But What Goes Unremarked Might Be The Most Astonishing Detail Of All: In Spite Of Chaos, War And A Dictatorship To Rival That Which They Had Overthrown, The Iranian People Clearly Loved, And Continue To Love, The Imam. Coughlin Places Great Emphasis On The Iranian Commitment To Exporting The Revolution And Achieving Nuclear Capabilities, And American And Israeli Concerns About Both, But Doesn't Always Give All The Necessary Information About The Give And Take Between The Countries, The Political Forces Within Iran Or Why Khomeini's Ideology Struck A Chord For So Many. (mar.)

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Presents the life and political career of the Iranian religious leader, detailing his role in implementing the Islamic revolution and the imposition of strict Islamic rule, his support of the war with Iraq, and his continuing influence on the policies ofthe current government.--Résumé de l'éditeur