A Bitter Veil

Anna a young American studying in Chicago falls in love with fellow-student Nouri the son of a wealthy Iranian family. Despite their cultural differences Anna whose parents are divorced and remote eagerly moves to Tehran where she is embraced by Nouris family. A few months after she arrives however in February 1978 the Shah is deposed and the Islamic Republic of Iran is formed. Life turns upside down for the couple as men but especially women are restricted in their activities clothing and behavior. Arrests and torture are frequent education for women is not permitted and Anna cannot travel without her husbands permission. Although she tries to conform to please her husband and new family Anna chafes under the oppression while Nouri seems to embrace it. Anna grows increasingly unhappy and as events become more explosive so does Nouri. Anna is desperate to return home to America but Nouri refuses to allow it. Tension builds until a shattering event changes everything and plunges Anna into the vortex of a tumultuous-and dangerous-crisis raising the possibility she will never leave Iran alive.