Saved by Beauty: Adventures of an American Romantic in Iran Paperback – November 13, 2012

Wonderfully written account of meetings with Iranian people, scholars, mystics, poets and families and to give a sense of their everyday lives and the spiritual contexts. The author as poet had special access to other creative people and spiritual leaders and to their homes. It brought Iran and its people to life.

This is a story of the author's trip to Iran, a dream from adolescence, to see the land of the Persian poets and the great gardens and magnificent mosques and to meet with the clerics, sheiks and leaders of minority faiths, like Sufi and Zoroasterian, to uncover the many anomalies that represent Iran, the conflicts between the rulers and the way the general artistic population lives, the compromises citizens make to find a place of expression and creativity..and the hopes of the younger population.The Iranian population is very pro-American, as was once the population of Iraq, they were two of the only Middles Eastern countries whose average citizen loved Americans, in spite of the despots that rules them. Iran's culture which goes back thousands of years has the patience to survive any government, and the love of their country, culture, heros and poets give most Iranians hope for a future where beauty and friendship will be the future.

This is a timely addition to the recently published books regarding relations between the US and Iran. It is a relaist's view of a people with historical and emototional ties to the US.It should be included in the reading material reccomended for the statespeople responsible for managing this relationship. At a time when both sides have legitimate claims on grievances resulting from their behavior during the recent past, a book aimed at healing is timely and appropriate. As a sort of travel book, it is surprisingly a fast read and a page turner.I highly recommend the book.

I enjoyed this book, a great insight into Persia. I only wish Roger would have done like one of his Iranian friends suggested was to spend some time out among the Bedions instead of fixating on Persian cultural sites and hanging out with artists and intellectuals.

I loved this book. This man is a philosopher as well as a poet. I was very moved by the chapter on Persepolis, and having been to Isfahan in 1973 knew exactly where and what he was referring to and Whetted my apetite to return. His meetings with prominent artists and film makers as well as the women of Iran was an eye opener. . It is wonderful to travel with someone who isnt afraid to reach out and touch the soul of a place and its people. Thanks Roger, look forward to your next trip.

This book is pleasant enough, but it never really grabbed me. There are descriptions of people and places and experiences the author has, but I kept waiting for something to really shine, a special moment, or an observation that really moved me, and it never really came. It was a good taste of Modern Iran, but not what I was looking for.

Mr. Housden should have spent more time researching Iran before he journeyed there because he makes a few basic and embarrassing errors about the country and culture. His delight in his Iranian sojourn is, however, infectious, and if you prefer literary to real travel, this book will take you to a far and exotic destination that you won't regret visiting.

It was interesting

This is a beautifully written book, which gives insight into life in Iran, particularly the spiritual and cultural life as Housden journeys into the homes of artists,, Sheiks and Sufi masters.Times have changed since the book was written, but it is still an excellent insight into how a population deals with the necessary restrictions of life in Iran.As a fan of Hafiz and Rumi, I too was interested to see how these poets work was integrated into the lives of Iranians, and Housden did a great job of showing this. The fact he was arrested by the Iranians and narrowly escaped prison during this adventure only adds to its interest.

It's been a year since I read this (I actually purchased it as a gift for somebody else) but 'Saved By Beauty' was everything I look for in a piece of travel literature. Roger Housden is no less poignant when describing the blue dome of Isfahan and his longings for Persia than he is in his much-lauded Ten Poems series, and his language is so evocative that I had to read parts of the narrative aloud. Beautiful indeed.