The title of this book comes from the Rubayyat of Omar Khayyam and is a reference to the way that even the most seemingly permanent rule must pass away and that history waits for no-one. It is fitting for a somewhat dark but readable novel set in the Iran of the so-called "Islamic Revolution". The book deals with the fortunes of five very different families - Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Baha'i - as events unfold around them and the world they know is swept away, along with their positions and security. It is well written and conveys the message that behind the big events of the politicians and the media lie many experiences and tragedies, equally large and important for those experiencing them. The reader gains an insight into this particular revolution, and revolutions in general, through the account of what befalls these characters.