The Quince Seed Potion

By Morteza Baharloo

This novel is set against the backdrop of Iran's turbulent modern history, is a saga of an indentured servant's devotion and love for his masters during the years 1928 to 1981. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1882593871
• ISBN13: 9781882593873
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Bridge Works Publishing Company
• Length: 241 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.7" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

A saga of devotion, love, violence, and humiliation in the life of Sarveali Jokar

Set against the backdrop of Iran's turbulent modern history and spanning the years 1928 to 1981, The Quince Seed Potion is a saga of devotion, love, violence, and humiliation in the life of Sarveali Jokar, a servant to a great dynastic family of rural landowners. Sold into indentured servitude as a youth, Sarveali has dedicated his life to serving the Shirlu Khans, and they are the only family he knows. He remains loyal to his masters throughout their travails, even in the face of contempt and cruelty. Sarveali's adventures are presented in a series of episodes in the traditional style of a Persian storyteller and include a marriage to a cousin, her repeated promiscuity and eventual murder, and his own addition to opium and his experience with imprisonment. Iranian-America author Morteza Baharloo writes with the compelling expertise of a born storyteller that will engage his readers interest and addition from first page to last. The Quince Seed Potion is enthusiastically recommended reading!

Absolutely Amazing!

Since entering college, I have had a hard time finding the time or interest in reading novels on the side. Until "The Quince Seed Potion." It was amazing. I read it straight-through, unable to detach myself from the story. It's a journey through Iranian history, while following the life of Serveali a servent for a prominent family. Baharloo lives in the minds of his characters and as the reader you feel greatly attached to them as well. Read it! You will not be disappointed!

Excellent book!

If you've ever wondered what to imagine when someone mentions "Iran in the 1900s" then you really need to read this book. Even if you already know a lot about Iran's history this book will be an eye-opener. I thought I knew a fair amount about what Iran was like before their revolution in the 1970s, but I was surprised as heck to find out some of the things that went on in their system of landlords and peasants. Be advised though that this is not a book for the faint of heart: there are some really shocking things that happen (involving sexuality, crime and drugs) but I won't spoil them here. I also must mention that the author has an extremely effective (and sometimes quite strange)sense of humor, and I can't even count the number of times I laughed out loud while reading this book. A couple of times I actually went into a laughing fit and couldn't stop til tears were streaming down my face. I liked the fact that besides being entertaining, the story also taught me some history. It's told from a servant's point of view, which gave me a feel for how the poor viewed their lot in life. To me this book is in a category by itself. It's an awesome read.

One Man's Life Mirrors A Country's History

There's no doubt about it, Sarveali Jokar was born at the very bottom of the human food chain and did not progress much further up the ladder during his lifetime. "The Quince Seed Potion," and Sarveali's life, are set against the turbulent years of 20th century Iran, from 1928 to 1981. Our protagonist's life mirrors his country's changes and upheavals, from a feudal society to a monarchy and modernization with Reza Shah, and his son Mohammed Reza Shah, who founded the Pahlavi dynasty. The Pahlavis, autocratic nationalists, were determined to weaken the tribal khans while bringing their country into the 20th century, attempting to model Iran along Western lines. Increasing civil unrest led to the 1979 revolution, which brought about the downfall of the Shah, "King of Kings, Light of the World,' and birthed an Islamic theocracy. In the village of Madavan, "outside the township of Kamab, Iran, three hundred kilometers from the Fars provincial capital of Shiraz, on the tenth day of Teer, July 2, 1928," Sarveali's mother died giving her only child life. The bizarre manner of his birth was inauspicious. He was left alone to be brought up by his father, Zofali, the Blind Licker. Zolfali was called so because, although unsighted, he possessed the unusual talent of ejecting his tongue and reaching it up to lick his own forehead. Zofali died when Sarveali was two-years-old, leaving him with his maternal aunt and uncle where he was trained as a shepherd. Barat-Ali, Zolfali's brother and Sarveali's self-appointed guardian, took possession of the boy when he turned six, and also took the goats and sheep the child inherited. Grasping, greedy Barat-Ali mistreated his charge, sodomized him and delivered him into indentured servitude in less than a year's time. From this moment, Sarveali dedicates his life to serving the Shirlu khans, an extremely wealthy family of landowners and farmers. He is appointed the servant of Teimor Khan, a beautiful, spoiled boy his own age, who he immediately adores. Although treated like the lowliest of slaves, Sarveali experiences a better life than he has ever known. He has enough food to fill his stomach, a warm bed and a change of clothes, an occasional friend and a young master to adore. The reader is told the history of modern Iran through episodes in Serveali's life. With the Shah's reforms and land distribution, the khans are eventually transformed from rich, powerful rulers to poor exiles. Members of the Shirlu family are assassinated. During these crucial events in the family's and the nation's history, Sarveali experiences his own major adventures and changes. Through Barat-Ali's machinations, he is forced into marriage with disastrous results. He discovers the delights and downside of opium addiction and spends some time in jail. He also experiences what he believes to be a lifelong physical malady. He thinks he can be cured by a traditional quince seed potion passed on to him by the beloved Bibi Golnar Khanom, the