Lords of the Mountains

Far too short a book from Belgian author Marie Therese Ullens de Schooten, who spent time in Persia on four occasions, and formulated this book as a result.

Simply put, it outlines her time spent in Persia, and weaves some history and culture around her personal experiences. The subtitle of the book is ‘Southern Iran and the Kashkai Tribe', and this is where her efforts are largely concentrated.

Part 1 however deals with close friends who perhaps facilitate the initial opportunity to travel in Iran (they are diplomats, like the authors late husband). There are also chapters on time spent in Tehran, Isfahan and Persepolis. Part 2 is titled ‘On the Kashkai Trail', and details time in Shiraz and Firuzabad, then the authors introduction to the Kashkai, and the invitation to join them at the Spring Camp. Part 3 of course, is the Spring Camp (of Khorow-Shirin), and the authors adventurous route to meet the tribe during a part of their nomadic migration. Largely due to meeting Nasser Khan, the leader of the 40000 members of the tribe, and the fact they strike it off, the author becomes the first person he allows to photograph the tribe during their migration, and to spend time with them - unprecedented at that time.

The photographs contained in the book are good, but probably still a little disappointing in hindsight. With all that opportunity they might have been spectacular.

While the book itself runs to only 109 pages, it is followed by appendix 1 - A Brief Survey of the Tribes of Iran, and then appendix 2 The Kashkai Clans (which is basically a list of the clan names, how many families make each clan up and where they are located). This is followed by a thorough Bibliography and an Index. At 127 pages, it felt minimal - almost like an excerpt from a more thorough book.

Enjoyable, but short! 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.