[1][2] The book covers his early life, rise in politics and 12 year tenure as the longest serving prime minister of Iran from 1965 to 1977 during the reign of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi[3][4] until his trial and execution in the aftermath of the Iranian revolution in 1979.

"[6] The book provides a detailed biography of Hoveyda from his childhood in a middle-class family with aristocratic roots, his education at distinguished institutions in Beirut, London, and Brussels, his career, including his premiership (1965-1977), to his tragic end of death by execution in April 1979 following the 1979 revolution.

[7] Another Iranian reviewer, Afshin Matin Asgari of California State University, describes the topic of the book as controversial without giving his specific reference.

[3] S. Cronin in his review also expresses similar views and argues that Milani did not adequately describe the harsh aspects of the Shah's regime.

He also adds that the language used by Milani to describe the judges at the Hoveyda’s tribunal, such as Sadeq Khalkhali, is so biased that it does not help the book in enhancing his main arguments.

[12] For instance, there is no mention of Hoveyda's posthumous award with the title of Commander of the Legion of Honour and letters of six French prime ministers to Khomeini to save his life.