The Terminal Man

Karimi Nasseri, who began to call himself "Sir, Alfred Mehran" (comma included, after the salutation in a letter he once received), came from a wealthy family in Iran, the son of a respected medical doctor. However, he learned to his shock on reaching college age, when his father died, that he would receive no inheritance because his birth was the outcome of an affair between his father and a Scottish nurse. In Iran, the penalty for adultery is stoning although not for the offspring. The offspring, however, have no rights of any kind. After his false mother coldly told him that she was not his real mother, she left the room and he never saw her again. His uncles proposed a deal: they would send him to an English university for three years, all expenses paid, but he must never come back to embarrass the family. I can imagine the shock this revelation must have been to his sense of identity and self worth. But it was to get much worse. Due to loss of all his identity documents by a mugging in Paris while traveling in Europe some years later, he became trapped in limbo in the Charles de Gaulle airport when no other country would accept him as a refugee. He could not return to Iran because of political expulsion for having once joined a British march protesting the Shah. After many years passed, he was offered travel papers but by then he had come to believe that he was not really Iranian after his rejection by his family and his status as an exile. He stubbornly refused to sign the travel papers identifying him as an Iranian. Therefore he chose to remain living on a bench in the departure lounge of Terminal One. Finally, after almost eighteen years at the airport (August 1988 to July 2006), he was removed to a hospital and placed eventually in an Emmaus shelter in Paris for homeless people where he lives to this day, according to a Wikipedia article. It is not known whether he ever learned the full name of his mother or made contact with her as he long wished to do.The price of this book has skyrocketed in the past month. Maybe the current situation of limbo at Sheremetyevo airport has increased demand for this story. I hope that Corgi Books in Great Britain will issue a reprint.

The book arrived, from the seller in England, in a week. Impressive. The book is interesting and a bit of page turner. The author, Sir Alfred, is somewhat stubborn and by the end of the book I did not have as much sympathy for him as maybe I should. The storyline would make for a better movie than the not-so-good Spielberg/Hanks film of the same name.

I truly enjoyed this book. Though it's never directly confirmed, I believe the movie the Terminal with Tom Hanks was based on this amazing, amazing story. But READ THIS BOOK because there's much, much more to it and the story is so inspiring and eye-opening. Not the fastest moving, but remember it's a true story.

I met this kind and gentle man back in 2005 while passing through charles de gaulle airport on my way back to Berlin. I spent about 20 minute speaking with him and even bought his book, he was so thankful, he said that the little bit of income would help him with medical bills, food etc. He had a small brain tumor he said. The kindness of so many strangers was amazing, so many people came through daily to say a few kind words and share their stories with him. I will never forget him, and he signed his book for me, what a treasure! People may not realize how much they helped him, you know, he told me how much he missed his family, and he never got to see them again, but yet he was so grateful and thankful.

Slow start but very interesting book

Perfect read for down time at the airport. It's much different from the Tom Hank movie.

In 50 pages, received maybe ten of useful information. I am not mentally challenged and cannot stand the way this is written. I probably will not finish this book. I know the stupid recording from the airport will show up again, his explanation about how he got his red bench, a table and a chair, his nervous habit of rubbing a fingernail on his lips........................................and if I am correct in assuming, this living in the airport may be his fault because he refuses to agree he is Iranian, he will talk of his history in Iran, but his point of origin, he says, is not Iran............and he disagrees his name in the official paperwork. I think the electric shock he received damaged his brain. He would have had French citizenship (just skipped ahead to page 221) if he had signed the paperwork. He could have changed his name in France. I think he was afraid to leave the airport after 11years. and still more repeats of earlier pages.......

This book was purchased as I watched one of my favorite films: The Terminal featuring Tom Hanks. A very humble, interesting tale, but the level of English it is written in is basic, and possibly due to the translation. The tale is heart warming and breaking at the same time, but don't expect a scholarly read here.

the true account of sir alfred mehran, disturbing and illumating at once.

Really good book

very touching story about persona non grata. persona non grata for certain countries is not very eligible. he is from iran for sure.

Interesting story. His mental illness becomes ever more apparent by the end of the book. I found it a little depressing truth be told, but a good read.

ペーパーバックを初めて読む方にお勧めです。著者にとって英語が第二言語のようで、かなり文法の間違いがあります。しかし、英語学習者にとっては、簡単な文章で書かれているため、とても読みやすいです。結末は、とても悲しいです。客観的に書かれている分、悲しさが倍増です。