In the Company of the Silent Sage (or: در صحبت دانای بی زبان – channel link here) is a telegram channel recently launched by the NLAI Information Office (National Library and Archives of I.R. Iran), which is dedicated to the review of new books released to the Iranian book market and well-received by Persian readers.
Every book review briefly introduces the main thesis of the book, skims the chapters, and highlights its most significant achievement or merits, followed with an engaging Podcast in which the author elaborates on the objectives and target audiences of the book. The podcasts are neatly organized and pragmatically discuss which social/cultural issues each book might address or how they might serve the needs or questions of specific Iranian audiences.
The books seem to have been selected very meticulously based on criteria such as genuine methodology, polished Persian prose, and high standards of book preparation and printing. The focus of the channel for the time being is on books related to Iran and various aspects of what shapes the Iranian identity, although acclaimed translations and theoretical books are also covered.
The podcasts might be interesting for international and overseas researchers in Iranian Studies or Persian books who, because of the distance and difficulty in monitoring or obtaining books, are strangers to the Iranian book market.
The podcasts and the reviews are, of course, only available in Persian.
What follows is a list of ten books introduced on the channel so far:
- Ghaziha, Fatemeh. The Daughters of Nasir-al-din Shah: biographies and documents. Gooya Pub, 2020.
- Bregman, Rutger. Humankind: A Hopeful History. Mazda Movahed (Translator). Asim Pub, 2020.
- Shokat, Hamid. Tryst in Hell: The Political Life of Khalil Maleki. Akhtaran, 2020.
- Floor, Willem. Agriculture in Qajar Iran. Translated by Shahram Gholami. Elmi-Farhangi Pub, 2020.
- Al-e Davoud, Seid-Ali. On Books and Bibliography in the Writings of Habib Yaghmaei. Khaneh Ketab, 2020.
- Sheikholhokamaei, Emadoddin. Research on the Documentation of the Mongol Period. Mahmoud Afshar Foundation, 2020.
- Parham, Sirus. Carpet and Carpet Weaving in Iran. CGIE, 2020.
- Forough, Mahdi. Iran in the World Drama Masterpieces. Edited by Azar Bidari, foreword by Dariush Rahmanian and Ali Nasirian. Khojasteh Pub, 2020.
- Khorramshahi, Bahaeddin. Shamlou According to Khorramshahi. Nahid Pub, 2020.
- Saadat, Esmail (ed). The Encyclopedia of Persian Language and Literature. APLL with Sokhan Pub, 12 volumes, 2019.
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