This book investigates how seventeenth-century French society utilized the image of Safavid Persia to construct and reflect upon its own national identity. Susan Mokhberi, a scholar of early modern French history, synthesizes a diverse array of primary sources—including diplomatic correspondence, travelogues, and visual arts—to challenge traditional binary interpretations of European orientalism. She argues that the French engagement with Persia was not merely a projection of exoticism, but a sophisticated, multi-layered dialogue that informed French political and cultural self-perception.

Historians and scholars of early modern Europe frequently cite this work for its nuanced approach to the history of cultural exchange and the complexities of early orientalist thought. The text is recognized for its academic rigor and its ability to bridge the gap between diplomatic history and cultural studies.