The Blood of Flowers – Anita Amirrezvani

Set in the 1620s in the Iranian city of Isfahan, The Blood of Flowers is a look at societal discrepancies and hypocrisies – at first. As one reads further, one realises that the book is more than just another surface critique and that the starring role here is occupied by beauty – beauty that is anonymously created, yet widely appreciated. The story is told through the eyes of the 15 year old narrator who remains unnamed as a ‘tribute to the anonymous artisans of Iran’ as explained by the author. The narrator, a girl whose father has died without leaving a dowry for her, is taken in by her uncle, a well-respected and well-known carpet designer in the Shah’s court. As such, she straddles the two worlds of poverty and wealth, of deprivation and opulence. She herself has a natural talent for knotting carpets and is taken under her uncle’s wings.

The novel gives one a clear-eyed look at the times with detailed descriptions that are rich yet not bogged down by their own details. With a knowledgeable description of the art of Persian rug making and the book is more about the freedom provided by art than the restrictions of the narrator’s position.

Deepa Varshney