An historic and unprecedented collection of letters replying to Iranian President Mohammad Khatami's call for "a dialogue among civilizations." Issues addressed include relations between the Western and Islamic world, the future of U.S.-Iranian relations, the role of religion in public life and the significance of President Khatami's presidency, among other topics. This diverse collection contains letters from two former U.S. diplomats held hostage during the 1979-81 Iran Hostage Crisis, two famous Iranian expatriates, an editor-in-chief of a respected U.S. magazine, an American lawyer and human rights activist, and two pro-Israeli activists. "More than twenty years after the Iranian Revolution pitted the passion of political Islam against the power of the United States, Anthony Dennis has expanded the tenuous dialogue between two countries. Americans, Iranians, and everyone else concerned about stability in the Persian Gulf owe him a deep debt of gratitude." -Sandra Mackey Author of The Persia, Islam and the Soul of a Nation