 | |
| Author | Stephen Kinzer |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | 1953 Iranian coup d'état |
| Genre | Narrative history |
| Published | 2003 |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Pages | 272 |
| ISBN | 9780471265177 |
| 955.053 | |
| LC Class | DS318 .K49 2003 |
All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror is anon-fiction book byStephen Kinzer, published in 2003 byWiley, that centers on the1953 Iranian coup d'état, an operation orchestrated by theUnited States and theUnited Kingdom that led to the overthrow ofMohammad Mosaddegh, Iran's democratically electedPrime Minister.[1] The book was generally well received by critics.
All the Shah's Men, written byStephen Kinzer and published in 2003 throughWiley at 272 pages,[2] later received its firstaudiobook edition in 2008, released onCD by Tantor Media and read by Michael Prichard across 9 discs (10 hr., 34 min.).[3] ThePersian translation was published for the first time in 1382SH (2003 or 2004) by multiple translators and through multiple publications.[4]
The summary of the book's content has been written based on itsPersian translation by Shahryar Khavvajian; its bibliography:
Kinzer, Stephen (c. 2023). Mo’allemi, Bahram (ed.).همهی مردان شاه: کودتای آمریکایی ۲۸ مرداد و ریشههای ترور در خاورمیانه [All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror] (in Persian). Translated by Khavvajian, Shahryar.Tehran: Akhtarān Publications.
The book presents its material across 12 chapters, along with apreface and anepilogue. The first chapter recountsKermit Roosevelt's arrival in Iran, his dealings withthe Shah, his taking charge ofOperation Ajax againstMosaddegh, and the failure of that coup, 4 days before its success. In the second chapter, Kinzer briefly outlines the history and civilization of Iran and discusses the depth ofShi'a culture in the country. In the third chapter, Kinzer describes theQajar-era treaties with foreign powers, depicts Iran's miserable condition during that period, speaks about theIranian Constitutional Revolution and the country's entry intoWorld War I, and addresses the rise of the Pahlavi government andReza Shah, as well as his downfall.
Chapter 4 examinesBritain's oil agreement with Iran and provides a brief biography of Mosaddegh from his birth to the1943–44 Iranian legislative election. Chapter 5 introduces theTudeh Party, discussesKashani, covers Mosaddegh's emergence as a national hero, and describes the challenges between Iran and Britain over oil. In Chapter 6, Kinzer describes the American public's reaction to the tension between Iran and Britain, explains the difference between the attitudes ofTruman's America and pre-Churchill-Britain toward Iran, discusses how this difference in behavior made Mosaddegh a more central figure in Iran, and continues the narrative of the oil negotiations between Iran and Britain.
In Chapter 7, it recounts the story ofAverell Harriman's presence in Iran, his conversations with Mosaddegh and withKashani, and the overt and covert measures taken by the British government against Iran and aimed at weakening its economy. (At the end of this chapter, there are about ten pages of images related to the figures, locations, and issues discussed in the book, usually accompanied by captions written by the author.) In Chapter 8, the author tells the story of Mosaddegh's trip toNew York to attend theSecurity Council, describes his arrival inWashington and his meeting with Truman, and discusses Churchill's rise to power asPrime Minister in Britain and the resulting change in the British government's behavior toward Iran and the oil dispute. Chapter 9 covers the1952 Iranian legislative election in Iran, the seizure of the Rosemary oil tanker carrying Iranian oil by Britishwarships, the widespread public support for Mosaddegh, a brief account ofFazlollah Zahedi, Churchill's success in persuading Truman to take action against Iran, a brief account of Kermit Roosevelt, the exit of British intelligence agents from Iran, and the renewed hopes for action against Iran with the1952 U.S. presidential election andEisenhower's victory.
In Chapter 10, it describes Eisenhower's coming to power, the United States' takeover of Iran's covert intelligence network that had previously been controlled by Britain, gives a summary ofJohn andAllen Dulles, describes the Rashidian brothers, who were among the key figures in Britain's spy network in Iran, and recounts the decision by the United States and Britain to overthrow Mosaddegh through an operation called Ajax by the Americans and Boot by the British. It also discusses the thesis of the rift between Mosaddegh and Kashani. In Chapter 11, it recounts Roosevelt's planning for the overthrow operation, the stages of carrying out the operation, and ultimately the overthrow and arrest of Mosaddegh. In Chapter 12, it describes Mosaddegh's court sessions, the creation of Iran's secret police,SAVAK, Mosaddegh's exile in the village ofAhmadabad until the end of his life, his death in March 1967, the way Mosaddegh became taboo in the language and culture of Iranian society under the government, the fall of the Shah, the early takeover of the government byKhomeini's allies who shared Mosaddegh's views, a brief account of what happened to some of the individuals involved in the coup after the coup, thehostage-taking at the U.S. embassy in Iran, the difference between theradical Islam governing Iran and Mosaddegh and his character, a brief outline of the factors that led to the coup, and the remarks of some American historians about the coup.
All the Shah's Men was generally well received by critics. Warren Bass ofThe New York Times offered a broadly positive yet stylistically cautious assessment, highlighting the book's vivid narrative style and use of newly revealedCIA documentation, noting that Kinzer’s reconstruction of Operation Ajax often reads more like an adventure story than conventional history, while strongly portrayingMohammad Mosaddegh as anationalist leader with some eccentric traits.[5] Chris Abbott praised the work for its succinct overview of Iranian history and clear explanation of the1953 coup that deposed Mosaddegh, linking it to subsequent events such as the1979 Revolution and even9/11, presenting a compelling introduction to historical dynamics shaping modern attitudes toward Western involvement in theMiddle East.[6] Brown fromForeign Affairs commended Kinzer for crafting a crisp, readable narrative grounded in scholarly accounts,memoirs, and official records, including the CIA's once-classified history, providing context on Iranian history and political culture while detailing the coup and its long-term repercussions.[7]Kirkus Reviews highlighted the book's well-argued narrative and detailed coverage of key figures—including Mosaddegh, the CIA, andthe shah—attending carefully to historical context fromTruman's sympathy for nationalist movements toEisenhower's covert operations, though noting that readers sensitive to the human cost of intervention might find the focus on strategy somewhat detached.[8] Hugh Galford ofWashington Report on Middle East Affairs emphasized Kinzer's detailed tracing of Mosaddegh's rise and the interplay of British and American motivations in Operation Ajax, showing both the short-term successes and the long-term consequences offoreign intervention, including the shah's U.S.-backed rule and lasting Iranian disillusionment.[9]
The book was included inThe Economist andThe Washington Post 2003 list of best books.[10]
Behind the 1953 Coup in Iran, a similar book byAli Rahnema
