In the tradition of Nancy Mitfords The Pursuit of Love and Gerald Durrells My Family and Other Animals , comes a story of a young narrator in the midst of her eccentric family. But rather than landed gentry or bohemian travelers, its a mad extended Iran clan who flee Tehran to 1980s Britain after the fall the Shah. Five year old Shappi and her beloved brother Peyvand arr In the tradition of Nancy Mitfords The Pursuit of Love and Gerald Durrells My Family and Other Animals , comes a story of a young narrator in the midst of her eccentric family. But rather than landed gentry or bohemian travelers, its a mad extended Iran clan who flee Tehran to 1980s Britain after the fall the Shah. Five year old Shappi and her beloved brother Peyvand arrive with their parents in London—all cold weather and strange food—without a word of English. If adapting to a new culture isnt troubling enough, it soon becomes clear that the Ayatollahs henchmen are in pursuit. With the help of MI5, Shappis family go into hiding. So apart from checking under the family car for bombs every morning, Shappis childhood is like any other kids—swings in the park, school plays, kiss-chase, and terrorists.