Cry of the Peacock (novel)

Cry of the Peacock is the first novel from Gina B. Nahai and follows the story of a family of Jews through seven generations, from 1780s Persia to contemporary Iran. The book was published in 1991 by Crown Publishing Group in the United States and won several awards. It was an alternate selection of The Book of the Month Club and The Doubleday Book Club.

Cry of the Peacock
Cover of first edition (hardcover)
AuthorGina B. Nahai
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreHistorical fiction novel
PublisherWashington Square Press
Publication date
April 30, 1991
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback)
Pages341 pages
ISBN978-0517574799
813/.54
LC ClassPS3552.A6713 C79 1991

Plot summary

Peacock, a 116-year-old woman, is captured by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. Her story and that of a relatively unknown group of Jews, the oldest in the diaspora, unfolds as she waits in her prison cell. Born in the Esfahan ghetto, Peacock was married off at age nine to the wealthy Solomon the Man. A decade later, she becomes the first woman of the ghetto ever to have left her husband. Peacock's family story goes back to Esther the Soothsayer, who appears in the dreams of her descendants.

The novel incorporates Persian stories and fables as well as historical figures such as Mossadeq (Mohammad Mosaddegh) and Ruhollah Khomeini (the Ayatollah Khomeini) and historic events.

Reception

The book was the winner of the Phi Kappa Phi Award and the Los Angeles Arts Council Award for Fiction.

Critical response was mostly positive.[1][2]

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References
  1. "Fiction Book Review: Cry of the Peacock by Gina Barkhordar-Nahai". publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  2. "Mideast Saga Has Conflict Of Two Worlds - Sun Sentinel". articles.sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
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