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In the late 1980s Sirous Houshmand found himself in the confines of Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison, a political prisoner facing a future where survival seemed unlikely. Thousands were killed in mass executions within the prison walls in 1988, including many of Houshmand’s closest prison friends. These memories would shape his life for years to come.
The Darkest Night Brings Longer Days is Houshmand’s eyewitness testimony of tumultuous times and of living in two dissimilar countries. Born in Iran, Houshmand grew up in the United States. Following graduate studies and partly driven by the political fervour of the 1960s – the war in Vietnam, the Kent State shootings, the drift towards a consumerist society and conformist pressures – he returned home. There he was a follower of the revolution, worked as a medical aide in the Iran–Iraq War, and was eventually imprisoned in a widespread assault against the opposition. Houshmand shares the brutal realities of incarceration, prompting reflection on today’s political prisoners and asylum seekers while offering insight into the differences and similarities between the United States and Iran, enhancing our understanding of their complex relationship today.
After the horrific executions of his friends, Houshmand vowed to honour their sacrifice. In The Darkest Night Brings Longer Days he brings their passionate aspirations for social and economic justice to the fore, aiming to inspire political discourse and reminding us that hope is a powerful force.
“Sirous Houshmand has lived the fullest of lives as a witness to and participant in cataclysmic events. His story encompasses not just revolutionary Iran and the dungeons of the Islamic Republic but also fatherhood, marriage, immigration, and ultimately the indomitable human spirit. A refreshing and illuminating memoir.” Arash Azizi, author of What Iranians Want: Women, Life, Freedom
"The Darkest Night Brings Longer Days traverses a complex life history wrapped in myriad shifts, adaptations, and the resilience of the human spirit. Houshmand transitions between languages and cultures, eloquently shedding light on his struggles to adjust to the world he lives in and his unwavering effort to create new ones.” Shahla Talebi, author of Ghosts of Revolution: Rekindled Memories of Imprisonment in Iran
"The Darkest Night Brings Longer Days is an indictment of the unexamined life and a call for courage and principles in the face of injustice. It is a powerful provocation for those living in times when western democracies normalize troops in the streets, the disappearance of those most vulnerable and a state founded on hate, fear and unfettered nihilism. The tales of courage and humanity captured by Houshmand underscore our species’ ability, and perhaps desire, to care for strangers and engage in acts of ferocious courage when needed." Winnipeg Free Press