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Mistress of the Persian Boarding House
A stirring, intimate work of historical fiction inspired by the life of Marina’s paternal grandmother.
Born into the glitz and glamour of upper-class Russian society at the turn of the twentieth century, Zina yearns for independence and a life she can call her own. When a class war breaks out and Russia falls to the Bolsheviks, she narrowly escapes with her husband and adopted daughter. But once they arrive in Tehran, tragedy strikes again, and she finds herself alone and impoverished.
At a modest boarding house, Zina must start over. There she meets women from Russia and Iran—outsiders like her, seeking refuge. They grow close, supporting one another through childbirth, illness, poverty, political unrest, and a pandemic. Amid the turmoil, Zina’s path crosses with the ambitious Reza Khan, the future shah of Iran. Their relationship becomes a welcome escape, enduring decades of hardship and sorrow before culminating in a heart-wrenching crescendo.
Spanning her life in Russia and her years in Iran, Zina’s story follows a woman who experiences profound loss and fights back to carve a meaningful life for herself. Sweeping, tender, and unforgettable, Mistress of the Persian Boarding House is a moving portrait of the enduring bonds forged between women who choose each other as family.
Born into the glitz and glamour of upper-class Russian society at the turn of the twentieth century, Zina yearns for independence and a life she can call her own. When a class war breaks out and Russia falls to the Bolsheviks, she narrowly escapes with her husband and adopted daughter. But once they arrive in Tehran, tragedy strikes again, and she finds herself alone and impoverished.
At a modest boarding house, Zina must start over. There she meets women from Russia and Iran—outsiders like her, seeking refuge. They grow close, supporting one another through childbirth, illness, poverty, political unrest, and a pandemic. Amid the turmoil, Zina’s path crosses with the ambitious Reza Khan, the future shah of Iran. Their relationship becomes a welcome escape, enduring decades of hardship and sorrow before culminating in a heart-wrenching crescendo.
Spanning her life in Russia and her years in Iran, Zina’s story follows a woman who experiences profound loss and fights back to carve a meaningful life for herself. Sweeping, tender, and unforgettable, Mistress of the Persian Boarding House is a moving portrait of the enduring bonds forged between women who choose each other as family.
264 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2026
About the author
Marina Nemat
8 books583 followersMarina Nemat was born in 1965 in Tehran, Iran. After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, she was arrested at the age of sixteen and spent more than two years in Evin, a political prison in Tehran, where she was tortured and came very close to execution. She came to Canada in 1991 and has called it home ever since. Her memoir of her life in Iran, "Prisoner of Tehran", was published in Canada by Penguin Canada in April 2007, has been published in 28 other countries, and has been an international bestseller. MacLean’s Magazine has called it “…one of the finest (memoirs) ever written by a Canadian.” Prisoner of Tehran has been short listed for many literary awards, including the Young Minds Award in the UK and the Borders Original Voices Award in the US. On December 15, 2007, Marina received the inaugural Human Dignity Award from the European Parliament, and in October 2008, she received the prestigious Grinzane Prize in Italy. In 2008/2009, she was an Aurea Fellow at University of Toronto’s Massey College, where she wrote her second book, "After Tehran: A Life Reclaimed", published in 2010. Her new book, "Mistress of the Persian Boarding House", a work of historical fiction which is inspired by the life of her paternal grandmother, will be published in July 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 11, 2026
If you love historical fiction, this one might be for you! I went into Mistress of the Persian Boarding House completely blind after winning it in a Goodreads giveaway, and I was so pleasantly surprised by how addictive it was.
I was hooked from the very beginning and needed to know what would happen next. The first part switches between before and after the Russian Revolution, showing just how drastically the characters’ lives changed. It was heartbreaking and really made me feel like I was stepping into someone else’s shoes and experiencing their reality.
This was my first book set in Iran/Russia, and I loved learning about the Russian Revolution and what life was like for the people living through it. Historical fiction that can both entertain and teach me something new is always a win!
So glad I went into this one blind! 🩷
I was hooked from the very beginning and needed to know what would happen next. The first part switches between before and after the Russian Revolution, showing just how drastically the characters’ lives changed. It was heartbreaking and really made me feel like I was stepping into someone else’s shoes and experiencing their reality.
This was my first book set in Iran/Russia, and I loved learning about the Russian Revolution and what life was like for the people living through it. Historical fiction that can both entertain and teach me something new is always a win!
So glad I went into this one blind! 🩷
September 4, 2026
Incredibly dry and tedious.
I was really interested in discovering that particular page of history. I had no idea there were Russian exiles in Iran at that time. I expected a lush, detailed story, examining exile and cultural differences.
Instead, I got my worst pet peeve: telling instead of showing. Dramatic situations are handled matter-of-factly, without any emotion.
She doubts her abilities in managing the boarding house with Irina. Yet, she very quickly changes her mind. Reza Khan wants to marry her soon after meeting her because...because I guess she is special? Except that she has no personality whatsoever.
I am sure the author's grandmother had a fascinating life and was incredibly resilient. Yet the narrative failed to compell me.
I was really interested in discovering that particular page of history. I had no idea there were Russian exiles in Iran at that time. I expected a lush, detailed story, examining exile and cultural differences.
Instead, I got my worst pet peeve: telling instead of showing. Dramatic situations are handled matter-of-factly, without any emotion.
She doubts her abilities in managing the boarding house with Irina. Yet, she very quickly changes her mind. Reza Khan wants to marry her soon after meeting her because...because I guess she is special? Except that she has no personality whatsoever.
I am sure the author's grandmother had a fascinating life and was incredibly resilient. Yet the narrative failed to compell me.
Read
August 19, 2026I'm not rating this because I didn't read the whole thing. It is well written but just not my kind of book.
September 1, 2026
I enjoy a good historical fiction that leads me to simple online research that informs me. This is a book that certainly had me googling to get a little better understanding of the history of Iran. One thought I have with the minimal grasp of world politics is that I almost think some countries would be better off with fewer natural resources……like oil! This is definitely not the main thrust of the story but just a sidebar. This, to me, is primarily a story of strong women supporting women in need……a favourite theme of mine. Reminds me a bit of Lessons in Chemistry in this regard. Lovely writing style and an easy read and recommendation. #indigoemployee
August 3, 2026
I learned a lot from this story both on the Bolsheviks and Iran and the author’s story is incredible.
August 5, 2026
I found the book overall messy and underdeveloped and the central romance baffling but I do appreciate the chaotic energy of someone choosing to write purple prose erotica about Reza Shah Pahlavi.
August 26, 2026
When I was about eight, my mum bought Marina Nemat’s first memoir, Prisoner of Tehran at the airport before a family holiday to the Gold Coast. Being the precocious and bizarre child I was, I decided to read the book myself and was completely enamoured by it. She became my muse for any assignment that involved writing about a hero or a strong woman and she responded to my letters and emails I sent her full of questions and admiration as a kid. I have gone on to read the book many more times over the last couple of decades. Needless to say when I discovered she was writing a book in my favourite genre (historical fiction) I was sick with excitement, more so when I realised it was about members of the family she had written about in her memoir. The creative liberties she had to take to fill in the gaps that have very been sadly lost through history were unique and I thought it was a really interesting, kind of niche topic to write about. I learnt lots and found it to be a great read by an author I have randomly been fascinated by since I was little !!!
August 5, 2026
In 1914, Zina Sergeyevna Lebedeva, the seventeen-year -old daughter of a wealthy Saint Petersburg factory owner, leads the life of a “fairy-tale princess”. Pre-revolutionary Russia sparkles like the jewels at her throat, and characters come vividly to life in the grand homes and palaces of the elite.
Naïve and charming the young belle becomes engaged to Andrei, the idealistic son of her father’s business partner. His secret sympathy for the Bolsheviks leads to both tragedy and a kind of salvation. But when the revolution takes place it’s the end of Zina’s story book existence. She feels with her husband and an adopted child to Tehran.
Throughout the novel the action moves back and forth between Russia and Iran, past and present, contrasting Zina’s early life of privilege with her struggle to survive in exile. How she escaped is hinted at throughout the novel until the final revelation of the shocking deal she makes with Berezkin, or “Comrade Satan”, a pitiless, brutal Bolshevik commander,
In Tehran, now a widow, she takes refuge in a boarding house owned and run by a Irina, a Polish Jew whose family were wiped out in a pogrom. The boarding house is, in fact, a “place for women who have nowhere else to go.” Here Zina finds solace and strength. With the encouragement of Irina, she becomes determined to “stand on her own two feet.”
Despite the protection of wealthy benefactors, including Reza Pahlavi, later shah of Iran, day-to-day life in Tehran is charged with hardship and danger, especially for single women. However, when Pahlavi, smitten, proposes to make the widow his second wife, she refuses him, choosing instead independence and her new “family” in the boarding house. She reflects on how she has rediscovered meaning and happiness there for herself and her two young children. She realizes she does not want to be “controlled by a man” again.
However, Zina does fall in love with Reza, and embarks on a passionate affair with him. The descriptions of Iran’s beautiful Alborz mountains, where their trysts take place, are lyrical.
This is an intriguing story of resilience and reinvention. The writing is vivid and compelling. The historical context is interesting. We see how external events force Zina to confront trauma and how she reinvents herself as a result.
The novel was inspired by the author’s real-life grandmother.
Naïve and charming the young belle becomes engaged to Andrei, the idealistic son of her father’s business partner. His secret sympathy for the Bolsheviks leads to both tragedy and a kind of salvation. But when the revolution takes place it’s the end of Zina’s story book existence. She feels with her husband and an adopted child to Tehran.
Throughout the novel the action moves back and forth between Russia and Iran, past and present, contrasting Zina’s early life of privilege with her struggle to survive in exile. How she escaped is hinted at throughout the novel until the final revelation of the shocking deal she makes with Berezkin, or “Comrade Satan”, a pitiless, brutal Bolshevik commander,
In Tehran, now a widow, she takes refuge in a boarding house owned and run by a Irina, a Polish Jew whose family were wiped out in a pogrom. The boarding house is, in fact, a “place for women who have nowhere else to go.” Here Zina finds solace and strength. With the encouragement of Irina, she becomes determined to “stand on her own two feet.”
Despite the protection of wealthy benefactors, including Reza Pahlavi, later shah of Iran, day-to-day life in Tehran is charged with hardship and danger, especially for single women. However, when Pahlavi, smitten, proposes to make the widow his second wife, she refuses him, choosing instead independence and her new “family” in the boarding house. She reflects on how she has rediscovered meaning and happiness there for herself and her two young children. She realizes she does not want to be “controlled by a man” again.
However, Zina does fall in love with Reza, and embarks on a passionate affair with him. The descriptions of Iran’s beautiful Alborz mountains, where their trysts take place, are lyrical.
This is an intriguing story of resilience and reinvention. The writing is vivid and compelling. The historical context is interesting. We see how external events force Zina to confront trauma and how she reinvents herself as a result.
The novel was inspired by the author’s real-life grandmother.
July 16, 2026
Marina Nemat’s The Mistress of the Persian Boarding House is a quietly powerful novel that explores the long shadows cast by trauma, political upheaval, and exile. Set against the backdrop of post-revolution Iran and the lives of those who carry its scars abroad, the story unfolds with emotional restraint and depth, allowing its themes to surface gradually but persistently.
One of the most striking elements is Nemat’s decision to step into the voice of her grandmother, writing in the first person. This choice gives the novel an intimate, memoir-like quality, blurring the line between lived experience and storytelling. While firmly rooted in historical fiction, it carries the emotional authenticity of personal memory, drawing the reader into a deeply felt interior world.
What stands out most is Nemat’s portrayal of women—complex, wounded, and resilient—who find ways to care for one another despite their own fractured histories. The boarding house itself becomes a kind of sanctuary, where shared pain does not divide but instead creates unexpected bonds. These relationships feel authentic and earned, grounded in small acts of compassion rather than grand gestures.
The novel also examines political dissent not as an abstract ideal but as something lived and suffered. Nemat does not romanticize revolution; instead, she reveals how its consequences ripple through ordinary lives, shaping identities and relationships long after the headlines fade. Trauma here is not a single event but a lingering presence, influencing choices, silences, and moments of connection.
Perhaps most compelling is the book’s exploration of cycles of revenge and the possibility of breaking them. Through her characters, Nemat suggests that healing does not come from retribution but from understanding, forgiveness, and the courage to choose a different path. It is a subtle but profound message that lingers well beyond the final page.
This is a thoughtful, emotionally resonant novel that invites reflection on memory, justice, and the enduring strength of women who support each other through unimaginable circumstances.
One of the most striking elements is Nemat’s decision to step into the voice of her grandmother, writing in the first person. This choice gives the novel an intimate, memoir-like quality, blurring the line between lived experience and storytelling. While firmly rooted in historical fiction, it carries the emotional authenticity of personal memory, drawing the reader into a deeply felt interior world.
What stands out most is Nemat’s portrayal of women—complex, wounded, and resilient—who find ways to care for one another despite their own fractured histories. The boarding house itself becomes a kind of sanctuary, where shared pain does not divide but instead creates unexpected bonds. These relationships feel authentic and earned, grounded in small acts of compassion rather than grand gestures.
The novel also examines political dissent not as an abstract ideal but as something lived and suffered. Nemat does not romanticize revolution; instead, she reveals how its consequences ripple through ordinary lives, shaping identities and relationships long after the headlines fade. Trauma here is not a single event but a lingering presence, influencing choices, silences, and moments of connection.
Perhaps most compelling is the book’s exploration of cycles of revenge and the possibility of breaking them. Through her characters, Nemat suggests that healing does not come from retribution but from understanding, forgiveness, and the courage to choose a different path. It is a subtle but profound message that lingers well beyond the final page.
This is a thoughtful, emotionally resonant novel that invites reflection on memory, justice, and the enduring strength of women who support each other through unimaginable circumstances.
August 18, 2026
Mistress of the Persian Boarding House is a work of historical fiction by Marina Nemat. Loosely based upon the life of her grandmother, Nemat takes us back in time to the Russian Revolution and the subsequent Civil War. Following these events, an exodus occurred as first the Bolsheviks and then the Socialist revolutionaries seized power. Zina’s story moves back and forth in time between her privileged childhood in Russia and her struggles in exile in Iran. She discovers a sisterhood in a boarding house run by Irina, also a displaced person, and is able to rebuild a life for herself, demonstrating a strength of character under dire circumstances. As Iran undergoes regime change, Zina and the women in the boarding house care for one another and form tight bonds. Nemat subtly weaves in discussions of loss, grief, trauma, and love throughout the narrative. Despite Nemat’s own life experience as someone who has herself lived through frightening and horrific times, she is able to infuse the text with a profound message of hope and love. An incredibly powerful and thought-provoking novel, with heart-wrenching scenes and a clear understanding of the lingering effects of political struggle at the personal level. Highly recommended.
Marina Nemat will be at Blue Heron Books on August 27th at 7pm. Please join me for her interview. Tickets $30. It promises to be a thought-provoking evening!
August 10, 2026
Zina longs for independence and a life of her own. Born into the Russian upper class in the early part of the 20th century, she knows her role is to marry, but she chafes at the restrictions of her life. When a childhood friend returns to Russia, she's happy, till he begins involving her with Bolsheviks. When he's killed during a protest, Zina is devastated, and ends up marrying a kind, young Iranian man and jeweller who is known and respected by the family. Zina also adopts a young girl whose Bolshevik mother has died.
When the Bolsheviks begin killing aristocracy, Zina, her husband and young daughter barely escape to Tehran, where more tragedy awaits. But, a pregnant Zina and her young daughter Vera are also taken into a boarding house by a kindly Irina, a Russian woman.
There, Zina begins building a life for herself and her daughter and son, surrounded by other women (it's a woman-only boarding house). They support each other through pregnancy, poverty, Spanish flu, political unrest and condemnation from surrounding people when they take in a young woman, pregnant out of marriage.
Zina also becomes romantically involved with Reza Khan, the eventual shah of Iran. Zina refuses to ever marry again, and forges a good life for her children, before her son eventually ends up in Toronto.
Basing the story on what little she knew about her grandmother, author Marina Nemat has crafted a gripping story about a wonderfully adaptable woman with tremendous inner strength. Zina loses most of her family during the Russian revolution, almost immediately loses her husband, but still has two children to raise. Then, there's the political unrest that surrounds them in Tehran, and the uncertainties that entails. There is so much heartbreak in this story, but also so much love.
Nemat moves back and forth between 1914 and 1918, and after, to tell the story of her grandmother. It's a powerfully moving story, and gripped me all the way to its bittersweet end.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Penguin Random House Canada (Adult) for this ARC in exchange for my review.
When the Bolsheviks begin killing aristocracy, Zina, her husband and young daughter barely escape to Tehran, where more tragedy awaits. But, a pregnant Zina and her young daughter Vera are also taken into a boarding house by a kindly Irina, a Russian woman.
There, Zina begins building a life for herself and her daughter and son, surrounded by other women (it's a woman-only boarding house). They support each other through pregnancy, poverty, Spanish flu, political unrest and condemnation from surrounding people when they take in a young woman, pregnant out of marriage.
Zina also becomes romantically involved with Reza Khan, the eventual shah of Iran. Zina refuses to ever marry again, and forges a good life for her children, before her son eventually ends up in Toronto.
Basing the story on what little she knew about her grandmother, author Marina Nemat has crafted a gripping story about a wonderfully adaptable woman with tremendous inner strength. Zina loses most of her family during the Russian revolution, almost immediately loses her husband, but still has two children to raise. Then, there's the political unrest that surrounds them in Tehran, and the uncertainties that entails. There is so much heartbreak in this story, but also so much love.
Nemat moves back and forth between 1914 and 1918, and after, to tell the story of her grandmother. It's a powerfully moving story, and gripped me all the way to its bittersweet end.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Penguin Random House Canada (Adult) for this ARC in exchange for my review.
August 3, 2026
It is hard to believe that MISTRESS OF THE PERSIAN BOARDING HOUSE is Marina Nemat's first book.
The writing flows beautifully and she understands both building an arc and how to paint a scene so that it stays in your memory for quite a while. Of course, knowing that the story is that of her grandmother makes it all the more poignant and meaningful.
I knew nothing about the Russian flight to Persia during the Russian Revolution and very little about the early days of Iran. Taking the point of view from her grandmother as principle narrator made learning of these times both interesting yet sometimes difficult to read. I loved the relationship that all the women of the boarding house shared. It was also enlightening to see the softer side of Reza Khan, the first leader of modern Iran.
I wholeheartedly encourage you to read this book. It is a history lesson, a feminist memoir and a romantic novel all wrapped in one. Thank you to Goodreads for my advanced copy,
The writing flows beautifully and she understands both building an arc and how to paint a scene so that it stays in your memory for quite a while. Of course, knowing that the story is that of her grandmother makes it all the more poignant and meaningful.
I knew nothing about the Russian flight to Persia during the Russian Revolution and very little about the early days of Iran. Taking the point of view from her grandmother as principle narrator made learning of these times both interesting yet sometimes difficult to read. I loved the relationship that all the women of the boarding house shared. It was also enlightening to see the softer side of Reza Khan, the first leader of modern Iran.
I wholeheartedly encourage you to read this book. It is a history lesson, a feminist memoir and a romantic novel all wrapped in one. Thank you to Goodreads for my advanced copy,
July 28, 2026
A good friend of mine refers to survivor stories, his own included, as love stories: love family, love of life and love of freedom. Marina Nemat's "Mistress of the Persian Boarding House" embodies this sentiment. Told with all the tragic heartbreak and human cost that comes with colliding ideologies, Zina shines as a beacon of hope amongst fear, violence, displacement and overwhelming loss. Her strength and resilience is a testament to the human spirit...and reminiscent of the author herself, Zina's real-world granddaughter, who has masterfully crafted her first novel. A beautiful, heart-wrenching, must-read.
July 24, 2026
Though listed as fiction, I didn't realize until I read the author endnote that the story is based on real events and the author's relatives. This explains why parts read like a historical account. I learned about Russia and Iran in addition to learning about the struggles of families and women forced to flee their home country. Parts of the story are graphic yet convey what happened and serve as a warning for what continues today under oppressive governments and interference from other countries.
September 11, 2026
Loved this book! It is a deeply moving and uplifting story that has stayed with me. Although it deals with atrocities and tragedies, it does so with a gentle touch. The characters in the story find strength and joy from their relationships as chosen family--and I was vicariously buoyed by their resilience. The writing is beautiful and engaging, and the story itself is a classic "page turner." There are several suspense-filled mysteries surrounding key characters that only gradually come clear. Just a great read all round!
August 19, 2026
An interesting read by a now-Canadian author. The great thing about historical fiction is that I learn so much historical information that was previously unknown. This book sheds a light on conditions in Russia and Persia during the early 20th century. The protagonist is a strong woman who survived more hardship than I could even imagine. Although fictionalized, the story is based on the life of the author's grandmother.
July 24, 2026
It is a beautifully written, thought provoking novel which I am not surprised it took her seven years to write. I was savouring every word and every sentence just so that it wouldn't end. Thanks to this author that obviously put her heart and soul into this mesmerizing story.
I would give it more that 5⭐ if possible.
I would give it more that 5⭐ if possible.
August 1, 2026
When the Russian revolution begins Zina, her husband Esa, and their child, Vera escape to Persia after a harrowing experience with the Bolshevik. They take shelter in a Tehran boarding house, but all too soon more disaster strikes when her husband is murdered. Can Zina make a life for her and Vera or will she succumb to her memories of what she has done to survive?
August 3, 2026
This book is a very fast read.
I found it so interesting learning about Zina’s life through her eyes. I did not know that upper class Russians escaped to Persia during the Russian Revolution.
I also enjoyed learning about life as a Russian immigrant in Persia during the time the Shah became the shah.( the father).
I found it so interesting learning about Zina’s life through her eyes. I did not know that upper class Russians escaped to Persia during the Russian Revolution.
I also enjoyed learning about life as a Russian immigrant in Persia during the time the Shah became the shah.( the father).
August 14, 2026
I was lucky enough to receive this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I didn’t know anything about the book or author. I absolutely loved the book and learned quite a lot. If you like historical fiction you will love this book.
Thank you Goodreads for another good read!
Thank you Goodreads for another good read!
August 10, 2026
Ambitious, but underdeveloped characters leave the story feeling flat. A brutally cruel rape scene seems incongruous with the rest of the book, which takes a softer touch with the horrors of wars/revolutions.
August 29, 2026
A story of hope that is not extinguished by incredible heartbreak and loss. Hope and love and finding joy in small moments allow Zina to live with her burden of grief. Inspiring and beautifully written.
Read
September 22, 2026Oh no… I was really looking forward to this. I was so excited to read what came after her earlier memoirs.
This though was a huge disappointment right from the start. It doesn’t even feel like it’s the same author!
I’m just not the reader for this one.
DNF
This though was a huge disappointment right from the start. It doesn’t even feel like it’s the same author!
I’m just not the reader for this one.
DNF
September 28, 2026
Enjoyed this one. Read it and also listened along for parts. It’s the story of her grandma’s escape from Russia and the 1917 revolution, mixed with some filling in the blank to imagine her life in Tehran. Pretty writing and scenes.
Want to Read
June 30, 2026I learned of this book via this post https://readbakecreate.com/late-2026-...
July 27, 2026
What an incredible (at times sad) story … I loved the main character. A good read.
July 31, 2026
Loved this book. Marina is able to weave the story of her paternal grandmother into something unforgettable. Love her writings. Really well done
August 13, 2026
A beautiful read. So relevant with the current war in Iran. A woman who was strong, smart and intelligent.
August 15, 2026
I really liked this easy to read book.
August 20, 2026
3.5*
Captivating story, good pacing, i liked the alternating chapters time line as a way to tell the story.
Captivating story, good pacing, i liked the alternating chapters time line as a way to tell the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews