An Iranian Childhood: Rethinking History and Memory

Hamid Dabashi was born and raised in southern Iran in the 1950s and 1960s, and his book explores the intersection of history and memory during this defining period in modern Iranian history. He combines vivid childhood memories with careful reflection to explore the power and place of the knowing postcolonial subject, asking what it means to be a Muslim and an Iranian and what forms the humanity of a person.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Hamid Dabashi, a prominent Iranian scholar and historian, was born and raised in southern Iran during the 1950s and 1960s, a period marked by significant political and social transformations. Dabashi's homeland underwent a drastic transformation, from the 1953 coup d'état to the 1963 political protests and the emergence of Marxist rebellions against the Shah in 1971. In his captivating and deeply personal study, Dabashi recounts his experiences during this pivotal period in modern Iranian history, skillfully blending the personal with the political, the ordinary with the extraordinary. Written in a lyrical and evocative style, the book combines vivid childhood memories with thoughtful reflection to explore the intersection of history and memory. Drawing upon a diverse range of themes and sources, including art, literature, and folklore, Dabashi asserts the power and significance of the knowing postcolonial subject. By redrawing the boundaries of modern literary historiography, he questions the meaning of being a Muslim and an Iranian, as well as what constitutes the humanity of an individual. This profound exploration of identity and history offers a valuable perspective on the complex and multifaceted nature of the Iranian experience.

ISBN-13: 9781316512852