Overview

While other Iranian girls of the early twentieth century cook, sew, and hope for marriage, Gohar climbs trees, reads books, plays tar, and dreams of escaping her forsaken desert town. But when her forbidden correspondence with a non- Muslim boy is discovered, fear of banishment forces the fatherless Gohar to welcome the protection of Saleh Mirza, a powerful nobleman. At 14, she marries his choice of husband, a 55-year-old politician expecting to enter her marital home in a white chador and leave it in a white shroud. But fate takes her to Tehran, where she is dazzled by the electric lights and gramophones but appalled by the misery, poverty, corruption, and foreign meddling. Endangering her life and marriage, she joins the reformists, while secretly idolizing Aslan, a mysterious Russian allied with the Iranian nationalists. Then Russia invades northern Iran, and the country erupts. In the chaos of war, does a married Iranian Muslim have a future with a Russian Christian hunted by his own government? Silenced Whispers tells the story of an Iranian woman's battle for freedom-hers and her country's-and love amid profound social change and imperial power grabs. Vividly portraying life in Iran at the dawn of the twentieth century, the book is inspired by the author's upbringing in an Azeri family in Tehran and her Russian great-grandfather.

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9798990004443

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Reviews

"Editorial Praise for Silenced Whispers""Silenced Whispers is a provocative drama with a heart-wrenching and emotional storyline that is gripping and affecting. Bellisario's excellently crafted tale also provides an illuminating insight into the harsh and oppressive social landscape of early 20th century Iran."" -BookLife ""Silenced Whispers, by debut novelist Afarin Bellisario, is a sumptuous feast of a book deeply felt romance, political intrigue, fascinating history, and a female protagonist set in early 20th-century Iran whose goals and desires make her a heroine we can easily root for today. It's a must-read!"" - Meta Wagner, author of What's Your Creative Type? ""Captivating and page-turning tale of a cross-cultural love affair set in Iran during political upheaval and societal change by an author with intimate knowledge of the land...Magnificent for its historical, political, and cultural breadth."" - Gina Vild, Author of The Two Most Important Days) ""A gem of a book. I loved Gohar, I loved Aslan, and I loved the twists and turns of their journey."" - Emily Williams, Director of Communication ""Silenced Whispers is a riveting and beautifully written tale. Afarin's prose is purely lyrical at times. The characters are well-developed, and the story will have you on the edge of your seat. Don't skip this book!"" - Raquel Howard, host of The Madness Caf� podcast ""Gohar is strong, resilient, passionate, and driven to do right even when it clashes with her desires. But as brave and bold as she is, she lives in a world that makes merely being a woman dangerous. I was on pins and needles as I turned the pages to discover what might happen to her in the suspenseful Silenced Whispers."" - Jennifer Bolanos. Host, The Madness Cafe ""Extremely Interesting!"" -Don P. Bellisario, Producer, Creator of NCIS, Jag, & Magnum PI ""Didn't want to put the book down. Well-written, well-plotted, and historically interesting."" -Wes Romansky, independent bookstore owner, book industry executive"

"Editorial Praise for Silenced WhispersA Tense & Absorbing Drama Silenced Whispers is an enthralling cross-cultural love story set against the backdrop of social upheaval in pre-WWI Tehran. Bellisario's excellently crafted tale provides an illuminating insight into the harsh and oppressive social landscape. The prose is sharp, the characters are well-rounded, and the storyline is consistently compelling. BookLife Prize, A division of Publishers Weekly A Historical Novel Relevant to Our Times ""Silenced Whispers"" is a fascinating read from start to finish. Afarin Bellisario's distinctive and narrative-driven storytelling style raises her novel to an impressive literary elegance. Midwest Book Review Riveting and Beautifully Written Tale. Afarin's prose is purely lyrical at times. The story will have you on the edge of your seat. Don't skip the book! Raquel Howard, host of The Madness Caf� podcast Suspenseful Novel Filled with Complex and Compelling Characters. Gohar is strong, resilient, passionate, and driven to do right. I was on pins and needles as I turned the pages to discover what might happen to her. Jennifer Bolanos, host, of The Madness caf� podcast A Sumptuous Feast A deeply felt romance, political intrigue, fascinating history, and a female protagonist whose goals and desires make her a heroine we can easily root for today. It's a must-read! Meta Wagner, author of What's Your Creative Type? Captivating and Page-Turning Cross-Cultural Love Affair Set in Iran at a time of political upheaval and societal change by an author with intimate knowledge of her homeland...Magnificent for historical, political, and cultural breadth. Gina Vild, Author of The Two Most Important Days You will think about this book Long after you have finished. Brigitte Cutshall, podcast host A gem of a book. I loved Gohar, I loved Aslan, and I loved the twists and turns of their journey. Emily Williams, Director of Communication ""Extremely Interesting!"" -Don P. Bellisario, Producer, Creator of NCIS, Jag, & Magnum PI ""Didn't want to put the book down. Well-written, well-plotted, and historically interesting."" -Wes Romansky, independent bookstore owner, book industry executive"

Author Information

"Afarin Bellisario was born and raised in Tehran in a family with its feet in the past and its head in the future: whereas her grandmothers could barely read, her university-educated father and uncles were prominent members of Iran's new technocratic elite. Her great grandfather had 25 wives and concubines; she holds a PhD from MIT. She perceives this as progress.She began writing professionally in major women and youth publications and the literary magazine Ferdousi at the age of 14, in pre-revolutionary Tehran. She came to the US to study and stayed when the Islamic Revolution happened. Most of her professional career has been spent in the high-tech world in both technical and business capacities. But she has continued writing. In 2013, her essay ""Movies with My Aunt"" was published in the anthology Love & Pomegranates, edited by M. N. Sayers. The Wall Street Journal and The Boston Globe have published several of her op-eds, and she writes regularly about the clash between tradition and modernity on Medium (Counterview). Through her writing, she actively seeks to create a conversation around the themes covered in her book, ""Silenced Whispers."""

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