[close] In a narrative where tragedy begs to be masked by comedy, F.M. Esfandiary conveys the consequences and realities of Iranian life. In an attempt to flee the underdeveloped, bureaucratic country, a Middle Easterner searches for every possible way to obtain an identity card that will allow him to leave Iran. In this comic masterpiece we follow this alienated man on a journey to freedom against the backdrop of a society dominated by ceremonious formalities, politeness, responsibility and confusion. Iranian-born Esfandiary further develops the themes and ideas of his first two novels, one of which has been required reading for the American Foreign Service, as he sheds light on a culture and a lifestyle that are a mystery to many. [close]