the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

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Naser al-Din Shah Qajar : Diaries

'For lighter reading we had the Shah's Diary, a work whose child-like simplicity admitted of but one interpretation. I never got through very much of it, but I did read far enough to see that the royal author did not consider himself to be bound by the ordinary rules of literary production. He was accustomed in particular to pass from one subject to another with a rapidity which was almost breathless. The book began somewhat after this fashion: "In the month of Sha'ban, God looked with extraordinary clemency upon the world; the crops stood high in the fields, and plenty was showered upon his fortunate people by the hand of Allah. I mounted my horse and proceeded to the review..."'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Gertrude Bell      Print: Book

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