Zoroaster's Children

Starred review from February 1, 2016

Poet and travel writer Kociejowski journeys widely and writes to "describe the world" and make deeper inquiries into human nature. He responds to landscapes and connects with a region's past through personal encounters evoking an evanescent yet emotional connection. This collection of essays takes readers from a Victorian cemetery in Hammersmith to Prague and Marseilles to Moscow and Sri Lanka to Aleppo and Iran. The author visits poets, artists, and writers, and in most meetings is overwhelmed by a sense of history infused with a feeling of sadness. The title essay describes an extended trip to Iran, where centuries of history are evident amid the overbuilding and air pollution of modern times, and where a love of literature and deep regard for hospitality coexist with despair. The narrative comes to a close in Syria with a moving contrast between the devastation of the civil war and the warmth of Kociejowski's past visits. Throughout, he enfolds the reader with beautiful writing that creates an intricate web of poetry, history, and humanity. VERDICT Highly recommended for its poetic presentation of experiences in different locations, this account is inspired by the past and a plethora of emotions.--Elizabeth Hayford, formerly with Associated Coll. of the Midwest, Evanston, IL

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