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Rosewater: Previously published as 'Then They Came For Me' Audiobook
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(4.02) - 450 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
When Maziar Bahari left London in June 2009 to cover Iran's presidential election, he assured his pregnant fiancée, Paola, that he'd be back in just a few days, a week at most. Little did he know, as he kissed her good-bye, that he would spend the next three months in Iran's most notorious prison, enduring brutal interrogation sessions at the hands of a man he knew only by his smell: Rosewater. For the Bahari family, wars, coups, and revolutions are not distant concepts but intimate realities they have suffered for generations: Maziar's father was imprisoned by the shah in the 1950s, and his sister by Ayatollah Khomeini in the 1980s. Alone in his cell at Evin Prison, fearing the worst, Maziar draws strength from his memories of the courage of his father and sister in the face of torture, and hears their voices speaking to him across the years. He dreams of being with Paola in London, and imagines all that she and his rambunctious, resilient eighty-four-year-old mother must be doing to campaign for his release. During the worst of his encounters with Rosewater, he silently repeats the names of his loved ones, calling on their strength and love to protect him and praying he will be released in time for the birth of his first child. A riveting, heart-wrenching memoir, Then They Came for Me offers insight into the past fifty years of regime change in Iran, as well as the future of a country where the democratic impulses of the youth continually clash with a government that becomes more totalitarian with each passing day. An intimate and fascinating account of contemporary Iran, it is also the moving and wonderfully written story of one family's extraordinary courage in the face of repression.
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"Glad I picked this one. Maziar Bahari tells of his captivity and torture in 2009 in his homeland of Iran. I, like many Americans, hear sound bites about world news. This book helps set the scene, explain the background and gives some insight into what might happen next in Iran. His mother is my hero. Bless her for her courage and strength."
— Becky (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“I really connected to Maziar’s story. It’s a personal story but one with universal appeal about what it means to be free.”
— Jon Stewart -
“A beautifully written account of life in Iran, filled with insights not only into the power struggles and political machinations but into the personal, emotional lives of the people living in that complicated country. Maziar Bahari is a brave man and a wonderful storyteller.”
— Fareed Zakaria, New York Times bestselling author -
“Then They Came for Me is the story of those who fight to inform and enlighten their society. Fortunately, Iran is not only a country of Ahmadinejads and mullahs; the country is also blessed with plenty of Maziar Baharis.”
— Shirin Ebadi, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize -
“Then They Came for Me is not only a fascinating, human exploration into Bahari’s personal experience,…it also provides insight into the shared experience of those affected by repressive governments everywhere.”
— Mother Jones -
“An important and elegant book…a prison memoir enlarged into a family history.”
— New Republic -
“Turns a lens not only on Iran’s surreal justice system but on the history and culture that helped produce it…A damning account of a nation run by paranoid, sexually frustrated conspiracy theorists.”
— Washington Post -
“A unique achievement. It is a story not just of political cruelty (a subject Bahari treats movingly) but also about the two poles of Iranian political culture, bent together in upheaval.”
— Guardian (London) -
“An illuminating glimpse into the security apparatus of one of the world’s most repressive countries.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“Haunting and unforgettable.”
— David Ignatius, author of Body of Lies -
This book is haunting and unforgettable.
— David Ignatius, author of Body of Lies
Rosewater Listener Reviews
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" An interesting history of current 20th century and current Iran is described by the author, an Iranian born man, currently a Canadian citizen, who is arrested while covering elections in Iran. Difficult to read at times (torture), it kept my interest. "
— Kathleen, 2/9/2014 -
" This is an amazing book, both in the unbelievable story it tells, and the way that a clear understanding of Iran and its politic situation it portrays. Awesome and worth reading!! "
— Meghan, 2/7/2014 -
" A story that makes you laugh, cry, livid, cry again, and ultimately sit back with a sigh of relief. A beautifully told depiction of what really happens behind the prison walls in Iran ... and it was just a glimpse, relative to just how often these same atrocities are happening. "
— Leila, 2/4/2014 -
" This story definitely holds your attention and makes you want to keep reading. Its an interesting look inside the current Iranian regime and their mindset. "
— Carol, 1/27/2014 -
" What a great book. The author is very knowledgeable and gives you all the history and background information that you need to follow the story. You'll laugh, cry, and feel anger all in a few pages time. I highly recommend it especially if you want to catch up on the news in the Middle East. "
— Gerry, 1/18/2014 -
" Good history of the 2009 election in Iran, with alot of knowledge interspersed about the thirty years of revolutions and shahs in the country. His descriptions of being a political prisoner are graphic, though! "
— Jen, 11/9/2013 -
" Well written and engrossing, it was difficult to put down. If you don't have much knowledge of Iran, this book is a good way to start to learn about the countries current condition and gives great incite into the true heart of the Iranian people. I would suggest this book to anyone. "
— Sandra, 11/2/2013 -
" an amazing book to read, I admire Bahari for all he have gone through but above all for his honesty. "
— Sepid, 10/18/2013 -
" a really frightening story of bahari's 118 days in an iranian prison. excellent read. "
— Michelle, 10/13/2013 -
" Compelling look at the imprisonment and torture of an Iranian journalist, and some interesting insight into the current political climate inside Iran. "
— Jeff, 10/13/2013 -
" Great book not only about the political climate, but of a family torn by the actions of succeeding governmental party 's need for revenge. "
— Brenda, 12/23/2012 -
" I had hoped to read this book in one sitting but sometimes reading his difficult ordeal was just too much to handle. The narrative is powerful and draws you in. The most interesting part is the epilogue where he analyzes what the future might hold for Iran. "
— Samin, 12/5/2012 -
" Not the easiest book to read when you are on a trip. Sometimes hard to read and sometimes frustrating. Still and interesting and eye opening book. "
— Heather, 8/19/2012 -
" I highly recommend this book. I have it on audio if anyone wants to listen to it. "
— Maggie, 7/20/2012 -
" Good read about a Canadian-Iranian journalist's imprisonment in Iran for three months in 2009 after the presidential election. Shows the absurdity of the regime. "
— Maria, 5/22/2012 -
" This is a very enlightening book as it gives you a rare glimpse into what life is like for the average citizen in Iran under the current regime. The politcal system is truely a disaster and as always the average person is the one who suffers. Iran is a very scarey place. "
— Dawn, 12/9/2011 -
" Loved it. I have always been moved by the story of this man since I read his brief account of his arrest/abduction in Newsweek. Also, I learned a lot about Iran. I thought it was all pretty fascinating. "
— Audrey, 11/25/2011 -
" What a story of courage. "
— Carol, 6/10/2011
About the Authors
Maziar Bahari is an award-winning journalist, documentary filmmaker, and human-rights activist. A correspondent for Newsweek from 1998 to 2010, he was born in Tehran and immigrated to Canada in 1988 to pursue his studies in film and political science. Bahari’s documentaries have been broadcast on stations around the world, including HBO, the BBC, and the Discovery Channel. In 2009 he was named a finalist for Spain’s Prince of Asturias Award for Concord, often described as Spain’s Nobel Peace Prize; he was nominated by Desmond Tutu. Bahari lives in London with his wife and daughter.
Aimee Molloy is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Perfect Mother and the coauthor of several nonfiction books.
About Stephen Hoye
Stephen Hoye has worked as a professional actor in London and Los Angeles for more than thirty years. Trained at Boston University and the Guildhall in London, he has acted in television series and six feature films and has appeared in London’s West End. His audiobook narration has won him fifteen AudioFile Earphones Awards.