In the Shadow of the Kingmakers by Vihad Imani tells some of the story of the post-WW1 countries’ geo-political maneuvering for control of Persia’s/Iran’s oil resources. Set in 1924 Tehran, the story revolves around the relationships between local Iranians such as young Ali who works at a restaurant and overhears spies manipulating each other, the British Embassy nurse who teaches him English in between his stints as a gardener and occasional waiter. A British spy/military officer is overheard manipulating an American into photographing a sensitive religious site in order to generate unrest with the locals. Locals also manipulate locals under the guise of being suitably religious or loyal to the government or the Cossacks who played a role in the newly-appointed prime minister…

At its core, this is the story of Ali, a young lad who had to leave school early despite his thirst for knowledge and the better life an education could bring him. His father’s early death means Ali must work menial jobs to support his mother and siblings. Ali is loyal to his father’s honour as a Cossack soldier and to Islam. He avoids being manipulated into protests but is accused anyway and locked away. The Embassy nurse takes on ambassadors and military generals, imploring them to fight to save Ali. But their careers, money and oil are more important to them.

This was a multi-layered story with many threads. I enjoyed its complexity and sense of reality.