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Description edit
A richly detailed and enchanting novel, set in 20th-century Persia Anahita, a nomad, learns that her father has promised her hand in marriage to a man she dislikes. Determined to have a say in her own fate, Anahita convinces her father to let her hold a contest, in which potential suitors... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
In Iran, more than one hundred years ago, a young girl with three suitors gets permission from her father and a holy man to weave into her wedding rug a riddle to be solved by her future husband, which will ensure that he has wit to match.
Characters/People edit
- Anahita: (Ah-na-hee-ta)—a semi-nomadic weaver who lives in the village of Hasanabad, Iran, and belongs to an Afshar tribe.
- Farhad: Far-hod)—Anahita’s father, or Baba, the kadkhuda of the Afshar tribe. A kadhuda is a tribal wise man and leader who resides with a branch of the Afshar tribe and is appointed by the khan.
- Maman Bozorg: (Maa-mon Ba-zorg)—the words for grandmother; Anahita’s paternal grandmother.
- Mojdeh: (Moje-day)—Anahita’s mother, Farhad’s wife
- Mullah: (Moo-la)—a Muslim religious practitioner.
- Shirin: (Sheer-een)—Anahita’s female cousin.
- Granduncle: A dyemaster; Anahita’s grandmother’s brother.
- Ali and Fatima: (Ah-lee) and (Fat-ee-ma)—husband-and-wife villagers who own a teahouse
- Reza: (Ray-za)—a schoolmaster
- Arash: (Awe-rash)—a Qajar prince and governor of Marv whose mother belongs to a Yomut tribe
- Khan: (Khawn)—chieftain of the entire Afshar tribe who represents the tribe with the shah’s government
- Jaleh: (Jaw-lay)—a woman in Arash’s tribe
- Ismail: (Iss-mail)—Farhad’s trusted subject and adviser in Marv
- Pirouz (Peer-oose): a street kid/orphan in Marv whom Arash befriends
Setting & Locations edit
- Abadi-eh-Golab: (Ah-baa-dee-a-Go-lob)—a fictitious village on Anahita’s migratory
- Hasanabad: (Ha-san-a-baad)—a fictitious village; Anahita’s winter village
- Kemesh: (Kem-esh)—a fictitious village near Hasanabad
- Khuras an: (Coor-a-zan)—a northeastern province of Iran
- Mashhad: (Ma-shad)—a holy city in northeastern Iran with shrines, caravansarais, and a marketplace that was part of the ancient Silk Route
- Marv: (Marv)—a city in present-day Turkmenistan that once belonged to Iran and was part of the ancient Silk Route
- Tehran: (Tear-an, Teh-ran)—the capital city of Iran, south of the Caspian Sea, home of the shah and his court
First Sentence edit
"Baba, I have a riddle for you," Anahita said, standing among the pregnant ewes corralled for an early spring shearing.
Table of Contents edit
Contents
Characters viii Place Names ix
PASHME CHINIE BAHARE
Spring Shearing
1. Riddles 1
2. A Few Quick Stitches 7
3. A Test of Wit 19
4. A Scholar, a Gentleman, and a Foreigner 31
5. A Yomut Nomad, a Gentlemen, and a Prince 39
6. A Shepherd, a Gentleman, and a Friend 47
7. The Caravan 51
8. The Magic of Mashhad 59
9. The Migration Trail 70
TAUBESTAN NAKHRISI VA GUL CHINI
Summer Spinning and Wildflower Gathering
10. Princely Dayn, Duties 82
11. A Khan, a Gentleman, and a Diplomat 97
12. High Pastures 104
13. Mating Calls 118
14. The Ultimatum 129
15. Autumn Market News 142
16. Leaving Mashhad 161
PAIZ RANG RAZI
Autumn Dyeing
17. Earthen Pigments 174
18. Fatima’s Fire 185
19. Weaving a Plan 191
20. A Lesson of Her Own 198
21. Bride Price 208
ZEMESTAUN BAUFTAN
Winter Weaving
22. Warp, Weft, and Wishes 220
23. A Riddle in the Weaving 232
24. An Alchemy of Color 239
25. Aub, Water 246
PASHME CHINIE BAHARE
Spring Shearing
26. Spring Fever 256
27. Wounds 265
28. The Riddle in the Weaving 278
29. Sandstorm 285
30. Unweaving a Tale 289
31. Surprises 297
32. May the Fated Gentleman Win 305
33. A Twist of Fate 315
34. Weaving a Mate 327
Glossary 334
Reader’s Guide 342
Author’s Note 350
Acknowledgments 356
References 360
Glossary edit
- abadi: (ah-baa-dee)—a village or settlement
- abrash: (ah-brahsh)—a term used to describe variations in the hue or colors of yarn in a rug or weaving caused by age, or yarn used from different dye lots. Most natural or plant dyes will yield color variations, whereas synthetic dyes are more uniform.
- Afshar: (Af-shar)—a semi-nomadic people who reside in southern and northeastern Iran near Kerman and Mashhad, respectively. Some also live in eastern Turkey. They are noted for weaving Afshar soumak rugs with geometric designs.
- ashena: (ash-en-a)—a casual friend
- agha: (ah-ga)—sir, a title of respect
- aziz: (ah-zeez)—one who is closest to your heart (azizam is the possessive form of this term of endearment)
- azan: (ah-zan)—a call to prayer
- bagh: (bawg)—a garden
- Baluch: (Bah-looch)—a Baluchi-speaking tribal group inhabiting eastern Iran, western Pakistan, and southern Afghanistan carding combs—wooden paddles embedded with metal bristles (or long teeth) used to straighten wool fibers before spinning
- chai: (chah-ee)—tea
- chanteh: (chan-teh)—a small woven bag
- cochineal: (cah-che-neel)—an organic dyestuff derived from dried insects thatfeed on prickly pear cacti. Dye colors range from red to pink and violet. It takes seventy thousand insects to make a pound of cochineal. One ounce will dye one pound of wool.
- darya: (dar-y-a)—sea. Darya Khazar is the Caspian Sea.
- dervish: (der-vish)—a kind of Sufi who follows a special form of Islamic mysticism. Dervishes are known for their drumming, chanting, and whirling ceremonies, in which they experience a closeness or intimacy with Allah. Some of the first orders of dervishes were inspired by the scholar, poet, and spiritual master Jalaluddin Rumi, who lived in the thirteenth century, in Konya, Turkey.
- divan: (dee-van)—a government bureau or tribunal; a council chamber
- dokhtar: (dah-tar)—daughter
Authors & Contributors edit
- Meghan Nuttall Sayres (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
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Page Count: 361
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Page Count: 361
Subjects edit
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