Autobiographical story of the life of a woman intellectual and lover of literature. She was born in Iran, left for education at age 13, and returned after 17 years to find the entire country changed and under the control of an oppressive regime. She continues to teach literature to a group of special young women, mostly her former university students. A deep look at the choices required of someone who must compromise all the time just to stay alive.

Extremely thought-provoking examination of pre- and post-revolution Iran, and women's place in it. With greatest intelligence and delicacy, the author conveys the feelings of the students she gathers into informal literature classes once a week, for women only.