This memoir investigates the psychological and physical endurance required to survive over five years of arbitrary detention and political imprisonment in Iran. Roger Cooper, a seasoned journalist and Middle Eastern expert, utilizes his deep cultural knowledge and personal experience to document his arrest, interrogation, and eventual incarceration in Evin prison. The narrative serves as both a personal account of survival and a critical examination of the Iranian judicial system during the 1980s.

This work provides a stark, clinical look at the realities of political imprisonment through the lens of an experienced observer. The narrative is noted for its measured tone and detailed documentation of the author's ordeal, offering a valuable primary source for understanding the era's diplomatic tensions.