The House of the Mosque

translated by Susan Massotty

Iran, 1969. In the house of the mosque, the family of Aqa Jaan has lived for eight centuries. The house teems with life, played out under the watchful eyes of the storks that nest on the minarets above.

But this family will experience upheaval unknown to previous generations. For in Iran, political unrest is brewing. The shah is losing his hold on power; the ayatollah incites rebellion from his exile in France; and one day the ayatollah returns. The consequences will be felt in every corner of Aqa Jaan’s family.

Praise for The House of the Mosque:

‘Kader Abdolah’s fable-like story of a family caught in the turmoil of the Iranian revolution is beguiling and utterly original. It is that rare thing: a deeply political novel that informs, thrills and moves in equal measure.’

Tahmima Anam, author of 'A Golden Age'

Praise for My Father’s Notebook:

‘A moving elegy for a lost father and homeland, but also a voice raised against all forms of repression… My Father’s Notebook reads like a detective story: information is withheld so that we gradually discover the background to Ishmael’s exile.’ Guardian

‘With seamlessly interwoven quotations from Persian and Dutch literature, deft storytelling and affectionate humour, he offers the reader buoyancy as well as weight. My Father’s Notebook is a gift to English readers.’ Independent