A Hundred Sweet Promises

This compelling historical fiction offers a portrayal of both the Tsarist empire and Persia in the years just before WWI, on the cusp of momentous changes, interlaced with music and literature. There are also a few hints about the revolution in the 1970s that culminated with the fall of the Shah. The story is both a love story, where the lovers try to transcend rigid boundaries of class, culture, and religion, and the story of a fascinating family of musicians and composers, struggling with the limitations imposed by culture and tradition. It sheds light on two empires trapped between being isolationist on the one hand and profoundly international on the other.

Although this book was very difficult to get into, it finally grabbed hold and became interesting. This true story contains much history of Russia, which I am familiar with, and Persia/Iran which I am not too familiar with. I won’t read it again,but I may recommend it to my book club, which like to read books about different cultures.

An Iranian composer and musician came to St. Petersburg, Russia, to study music composition at the turn of the century. He made the acquaintance of Irina Romanov, daughter of Grand Duchess Xenia, sister of Nicholas II. This composer taught Irina piano, and they fell in love. I will not tell the rest of the story, but it does take us back to Iran at the turn of the century and also St. Petersburg prior to the revolution. The composer's grandson wrote the book and did a very good job. He is also a musician. As an amateur scholar of the Romanovs I have read many books about them over the decades but I had never heard of this historical footnote of history. Enjoyable book.

I have always loved historical novels and true history. This was a wonderful combination of both. Having read several accounts of Russian revolution and the tragedy of Nicholas and family, this was a part I had never read. The history of the authors family and their musical contribution was so interesting. I am sad to say that so much of what we read or hear about Iran/Persia is so negative. This was an insight into another side.

Finally something to read that is different. Based on a true story and relates to a different period of time in a part of the world in which little is written. The musician's story and how the world functioned at a time prior to WWI. Family expectations and individual goals and love do not always match up.

Book Review: "A Hundred Sweet Promises" historical fiction by Sepehr Haddad.As a free Iranian-American I'm always at they ready to pull out a Wince whenever Iran is mentioned. Since 1979 it has been virtually impossible to defend a once great home-country to the world. Any attempt to repaint the image people have, is met with polite skepticism, and at best a cordial quick acknowledgement, just to change the subject.Which is why the new novel by Sepehr Haddad "A Hundred Sweet Promises" is such a welcome gift. Especially now in the Post-Trump years where Iran is once again at the center of jeopardy. Haddad breaks the stereotypical overtime-Islamic image of Iran by distracting us with a sweet love story, all based around the pursuit of excellence in classical music. Russian classical music. The good stuff.The book begins in 1978 with a recounting of a story about Haddad’s grandfather, during a lunch visit with Haddad’s grandmother. During the tumultuous days, at the very earliest start of the Iranian revolution.Set in the early 1900’s we are transported to Qajar Dynasty last vestiges of Persia, before it became Iran. Nasrollah Minbashian son of Iran’s first Court Composer has just returned after 7 years studying at the famed Conservatory of Music in St. Petersburg. Under Rimsky Korsakov no less.Upon his return to Tehran Nasrollah realizes he does not want to stay and help his father achieve his dream of bringing Classical Western “New Music” to Iran, and fulfill the whole reason he was sent to Russia to study. But instead Nasrollah desperately wants to go back to Russia and continue his education and pursue his own musical career.And that is where the story begins.I always like it when a book plays like a movie in my head. And the way Haddad writes it, you can see this story so vividly.But what I liked most about this book was that it is pure Iran. Not the Iran you’ve come to know through CNN. But a depiction of Iran the way we Iranians think of Iran, when we think of Iran. The attained culture we had reached during the Qajar period. The relatively equal footing Iran had with Tsarist Russia at the time. And the perilous path towards Democracy that both countries had begun. Each to inevitably end in their own tragic outcomes.If you like period pieces set in the 1900’s, and you enjoy a good unlikely love story that crosses family and cultural bounds, and if you like to see your stereotypes shattered, this is a great read. Hopefully like me, you can watch this movie right now, in your head. Enshallah one day on Netflix.

This is a charming story that crosses two cultures, the Persian and the Russian. Essentially it's about a Persian nobleman who travels to St Petersburg to study music at the conservatory in St. Petersburg. He fortuitously lands the job teaching piano to the niece of the tsar of Russia. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story as I'm sure many of you will as well. I therefore highly recommend this novel. The novel is easy to read and the author has brought the characters to life with great sensitivity.

Having lived in Iran in my formative years and gone to school with the author of this wonderful story, I could not put the book down once I started as the characters, history and culture were brought to life with great sensitivity. It reminded me of the profound and multifaceted culture of Persia and its very sophisticated and artistic people. It is a beautiful story and I thoroughly enjoyed it; I highly recommend it.

un voyage dans un temps pas si éloigné et qui nous fait vivre une aventure romancé et coloré au temps du dernier des tzar et du dernier roi kadjar de l'empire perse et ou une princesse s'aventure dans un milieux qui lui est interdit et inconnue l'espace d'une romance

I had a lot of pleasure to read this book.Beautiful story and very well written.I recommend it !