The Virgin of Solitude centers on the life of a young man, Nuri Zargham, and his Austrian grandmother, who settled in Iran after her marriage to Nuri's grandfather. Following the loss of his father in an accident and his mother's departure for the United States, Nuri is confronted with a profound sense of loneliness. His grandmother, who is herself not unfamiliar with feelings of alienation, attempts to acquaint Nuri with his inner feelings. Nuri's emotional turmoil coincides with the beginnings of the revolution in Iran. The upheavals surrounding the revolution envelope Nuri's family and change the course of his life.