This epic biography, a gripping insider\'s account, is a long-overdue chronicle of the life and times of Mohammad Reza Shah, who ruled from 1941 to 1979 as the last Iranian monarch.Gholam Reza Afkhami uses his unparalleled access to a large number of individuals-including high-ranking figures in the shah\'s regime, members of his family, and members of the opposition-to depict the unfolding of the shah\'s life against the forces and events that shaped the development of modern Iran.The first major biography of the Shah in twenty-five years, this richly detailed account provides a radically new perspective on key events in Iranian history, including the 1979 revolution, U.S.-Iran relations, and Iran\'s nuclear program.It also sheds new light on what now drives political and cultural currents in a country at the heart of today\'s most perplexing geopolitical dilemmas.