The Harmless Necessary Cat
Sepehr Haddad
Appleyard & Sons Publishing (2024)
ISBN: 978-1732594333
Reviewed by Lily Andrews for Reader Views (10/2024)
In “The Harmless Necessary Cat: A World War II Family Saga in Allied-Occupied Iran” Sepehr Haddad explores a broader view of the war period, setting his tale in the far-flung city of Tehran, Iran. A capable historian, Sepehr bases his story on real events and real people that arguably shaped the nation of Iran into what it is today.
Not one of those predictable historical fiction tales, this coming-of-age story follows Sohrab Ahanger, a teenage boy from an affluent family whose life is rocked by uncertainty, pain, and turmoil when Allied forces invade his home country, delivering an indelible portrait of love, loss, and war. While the drums of World War II grew louder, nations across the world advanced toward the inevitable conflict that would shake the family fabric to the core.
In Tehran, however, life went on as usual, with few people paying close attention to the tidal turns of global alliances as Iran remained neutral to the war. Still, the conflict would eventually knock at Iran’s doorstep in August 1941, when Allied forces invaded the robust and oil-rich nation. British Aircraft dropped leaflets warning of an impending German threat, calling for an immediate evacuation of the city and uncompromised support to the Allied forces. The Soviet air force, too, dropped similar leaflets in other towns as both foreign powers descended upon the once peaceful Iranian neighborhoods with the unforgiving wrath of their bombs, with the residential areas bearing the brunt of these attacks.
The two powers were determined to thwart the cunning German intelligence activities in Iran, making this neutral nation the stage for their grand maneuvering. As the Second World War took over Iran and the citizens’ futures were no longer theirs to control, Sohrab and his family found themselves caught up in these political intrigues, churned by the unforgiving wheels of the greater wars. His life changes irreversibly as he tries to make sense of the war. He faces unimaginable loss and heartache along the way, ultimately having to make compromises that demand his survival.
With a befitting title, “The Harmless Necessary Cat” is a story that lends immediacy and reveals the power behind the resilience of the heart and second chances. I love historical fiction and am always eager to learn something new from books of this genre. Sepehr broadened my scope of knowledge regarding the Second World War and its far-reaching ramifications on nations outside Europe. He captures the emotions, confusion, and ominous atmosphere that engulfed a country once vibrant and full of promise, going ahead to unfurl the hidden agendas and strategic calculations that were at play as the Allied nations coveted Iran’s oil riches.
The blossoming friendship between Karl, a German immigrant, and the protagonist is endearing and a glistening ray amidst the darkness. Characters such as Gabriela, who, despite her heart-wrenching past, wore the scars of war with pride, carry a huge emotional resonance as they allow us to smell the scents, sense the fear, and see the desolation of war-torn nations.
The book is well-written with the author effectively balancing historical details and a family saga. The oscillation between the protagonist’s life and the lives of other characters and their backstories achieves much and is perhaps the book’s main strength. “The Harmless Necessary Cat” by Sepehr Haddad will have historical fiction fans clamoring for more of the author’s work. It teaches, informs, enlightens, and entertains, ultimately arguing for peace.