Reza Aslan: An American Martyr in Persia
In this episode, New York Times bestselling author Reza Aslan discusses his book, An American Martyr in Persia, unveiling the extraordinary story of Howard Baskerville, a Christian missionary from South Dakota. Baskerville joined Persian students in their fight for democracy during the 1907 revolution, where his death inspired a transformation in Iran’s political landscape.
About the Chair
Javaad Alipoor
Javaad Alipoor is a British-Iranian writer, director, and performer who founded The Javaad Alipoor Company in 2019. His latest work, Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World, received five-star reviews and sold-out audiences at Battersea Arts Centre and HOME, Manchester, before touring internationally.
Alipoor’s previous work includes writing, co-directing, and performing in The Believers Are But Brothers. He also co-created Rich Kids: A History of Shopping Malls in Tehran, which won a Fringe First Award and later transformed into a digital experience during the COVID-19 lockdown, touring to Sundance Film Festival and The Public Theatre’s Under the Radar Festival.
Alipoor has held directing positions at Sheffield Theatres and Bradford’s Theatre in the Mill. Additionally, he is an activist and political writer, co-founding several organizations and contributing to major publications.
About the Author
Reza Aslan
Reza Aslan is an internationally acclaimed writer, producer and scholar of religions. A recipient of the prestigious James Joyce Award, Aslan is the author of three internationally bestselling books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth. Aslan’s latest book, An American Martyr in Persia: The Epic Life and Tragic Death of Howard Baskerville, was longlisted for the 2023 PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography.
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