Cyrus Ghani Information

Cyrus Ghani (November 8, 1929 – January 5, 2016) was an Iranian-born legal scholar, historian, Iranian studies expert, and film critic. Born in Sabzevar, Iran, he later lived in the United States and London.

Early Life and Education
Ghani was born into an influential family; his father, Dr. Ghasem Ghani, was a prominent politician, scholar, and physician. After his father was elected to the Iranian Parliament, the family moved to Tehran. He completed his secondary education in Tehran, Beirut, and London, and later pursued higher education in the United States.

Ghani earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature before obtaining a Doctor of Law (JD) from New York University.

Career and Contributions
Cyrus Ghani was a distinguished scholar of Iranian history and culture. He compiled a remarkable collection of books on Iran, which he cataloged in Iran and the West: A Critical Bibliography. His most significant historical work, Iran and the Rise of Reza Shah, analyzes the fall of the Qajar dynasty and the rise of Reza Shah Pahlavi.

Ghani also edited and published his father’s extensive diaries and memoirs in thirteen volumes, later summarizing them in A Man of Many Worlds: The Diaries and Memoirs of Dr. Ghasem Ghani, which was translated into English by Paul Sprachman.

Beyond his academic work, Ghani was an avid film enthusiast. He wrote My Favorite Films, a book discussing notable films in cinematic history.

Death
Cyrus Ghani passed away on January 5, 2016, at the age of 86 in the United States.

Notable Works
Iran and the West: A Critical Bibliography (1987)
Iran and the Rise of Reza Shah (1998) (translated into Persian by Hassan Kamshad)
My Favorite Films (2004)
A Man of Many Worlds: The Diaries and Memoirs of Dr. Ghasem Ghani (2006)
Shakespeare, Persia, and the East (2008)
Ghani’s scholarly work remains an important resource for those studying modern Iranian history, Persian culture, and cinema.