Into the Revolution

In July, 1978, Elana and Michael Hohl accepted positions to train helicopter pilots for the Imperial Iranian Army Aviation Corps. They resigned their teaching jobs in Columbus, Ohio, stored their belongings, put their house up for rent, gave away their car, packed for a two-year stay in a foreign country, and set out for Esfahan, Iran, with their three young children. They landed to find martial law, armed soldiers and tanks in the street. The political situation yo-yoed from day to day.

As told through letters, Elana chronicles setting up a house for her young family, learning the culture, mastering a new job, and trying to keep their homelife as normal as possible for their three sons, all the while dealing with the challenges of a society in chaos and a country headed irrevocably toward revolution. Elana returned home with the boys on the first evacuation flight out of Esfahan, hoping that things would eventually improve enough for her to return. Michael, reduced to single status,l remained in Iran for five more weeks and finally left on the last evacuation plane out of the country.

Elana's memoir helps the reader understand historical events leading up to revolution and their impact on Iran, the Middle East, and the world today.