Posted on August 26, 2014 in Persian Books
Scorching Plain is the latest historical novel by Sadegh Karamyar. The story that dates back to the time when the British discovered oil in Khuzestan, southern part of Iran.
In this story the author transforms a less-viewed aspect of Iran’s contemporary history into a novel that keeps the readers riveted as it progresses.
The novel, sets in Khuzestan in the early 1800s, details the prevailing atmosphere of the time, the lifestyle of regional people of Arab origin and the tribal relations.
However, the most important part of the novel focuses on the role the British played there as well as on why they would not or could not set the stage for the secession of the region from Iran as was the case elsewhere.
Scorching Plains is not the first historical novel penned by Sadegh Karamyar who seems to have spent a lot of time researching the subject. After all, putting the lifestyle of regional people, their beliefs and personalities under the microscope from a distance is next to impossible.