Vartan: a poem by Ahmad Shamlou
Today is Ahmad Shamlou’s 92nd birthday, a blessed occasion to read one of his finest poems: “Vartan didn’t Say a Word” is a political poem […]
Annual
Sohrab’s Way – by Martin Turner
Graduated in psychology from the University of Exceter, Martin V. Turner (1948 – 2009) an educational psychologist, poet and translator. As a translator of a […]
Sadness – Ahmad Shamlou
“They smell your mouth/ in case you said, ‘I love you.’ “
Fariba Vafi nominated for LiBeratur Prize
Iranian author Fariba Vafi has been nominated for the LiBeratur Prize, a literary honor that is presented by the Litprom Association in Frankfurt. She received […]
Sohrab Sepehri the Painter
(c) Photo improved and reconstructed by AI, 2025. Sohrab Sepehri (1928–1980) occupies a unique place in twentieth-century Iranian culture as both a poet and painter […]
Samin Baghcheban [1925 – 2008]
It was that time of the year again; the time that the scent of hyacinths fuses with the smell of vinegar, and the goldfish bounces […]
Top Ten Translations from Persian in 2016
The year just past brought no drastic change in the slow pace of translation from Persian literature, resulting in no more than a handful of slender volumes. The titles chosen, however, compensate for quantity. These recent translations cover an exciting range of genres and subjects that together form a polyphonic list of Persian literary practices available for enthusiastic readers.
Simin: Versifier of a Nation’s Sentiments & Sorrows
For more than a half-century, the arena of contemporary Persian literature has been graced with the luminous presence of two Simins: Simin Daneshvar and Simin […]
Postmortem Taste of Cherry: Abbas Kiarostami Deceased
Abbas Kiarostami, the award-winning Iranian director whose 1997 film Taste of Cherry was awarded the Palme d’Or at the Cannes film festival, died aged 76, following […]
Karnameh Exhibition: A Diorama of Arts for Iranian Children
It has often been difficult to trace the development of early children’s literature, widely practiced in the form of stories and songs for children, before […]