Saint Petersburg Has Its Musicians

Saint Petersburg Has Musicians is a book by Ali Akbar Shirvani that depicts “Saint Petersburg as narrated by travelers from the Qajar era.” This work, which is “the fourth volume of the City Watching series,” portrays the initial encounters and astonishment of travelers upon facing this beautiful and renowned city. One of the developments that rapidly spread during the Qajar era was the travel of Iranian nobles and courtiers to various countries, including European ones. During this period, advancements in transportation systems made traveling to distant lands easier than before, creating opportunities for affluent individuals and the upper class to visit different countries and become acquainted with the language, culture, and social conditions of other nations. As a result of these journeys, Iranian thoughts and beliefs underwent changes, and their perspectives were transformed in many ways. “Saint Petersburg Has Musicians,” written by the young Iranian author Ali Akbar Shirvani, skillfully and engagingly narrates the encounters of Iranians during the Qajar era with one of the cities neighboring their homeland. The atmosphere of the narratives is historical, and its imagery dates back about a century. Nevertheless, its prose is highly readable, encouraging readers to delve further into its pages. “Saint Petersburg Has Musicians” is a book that will appeal to travelogue enthusiasts, transporting them alongside Qajari travelers to Saint Petersburg from a century ago.