Stories from Iran: A Chicago Anthology, 1921-1991 [Hardcover]

Bozorg Alavi (Author), Heshmat Moayyad (Editor), Paul Losensky (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1992

This collection of thirty-five Persian short stories by twenty-six of Iran's best known contemporary writers gives voice to the concerns, strivings, and visions of their generation. In styles ranging from the dark to the humorous, from the elegant to the poetic, these stories depict aspects of both traditional and modern life in Iran with its many religious, political, cultural and class tensions. The expanding role of women in Iranian society is attested to both by the large number of women writers included in the volume, and by the central role played by women in many of the stories. Written during the last 75 years and arranged in chronological order, these stories span a period in Iranian history from the Constitutional Revolution (1906-11) through the long reign of the Pahlavis (1925-79), the upheavals of the 1950s, the 1979 Islamic Revolution, to the present. "Stories From Iran" was selected, edited, and translated by scholars of Persian Literature at the University of Chicago. Accompanied by a complete glossary, author biographies and photos, it will give the reader an unmatched insight into Iranian life -- an insight that only true works of art can provide.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The first sentence of the first of the 35 translated stories collected here contains an anti-Semitic slur, and this inauspicious beginning is indicative of Moayyad's uncritical editing. A professor of Persian literature at the University of Chicago, he overstates the strengths of the authors he presents, most of whom are interesting for the view they afford of an evolving Iran rather than for their literary techniques. The first Persian short stories, according to Moayyad, were written in 1921 in Berlin; the grafting of traditions to produce social critiques sparked controversy in Iran but may seem heavy-handed or even cliched to contemporary American readers. Often, predictable or melodramatic endings mar otherwise intriguing works. On the other hand, four densely imaginative sketches by Gholam-Hosayn Nazari (b. 1933) and a portrait of a young woman uneasily embracing modernity, by Shahrnush Parsipur (b. 1947), stand out for their originality and well-modulated feeling.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This compilation of 35 short stories by Persian authors who have flourished in the past 70 years covers the gamut of human experience in an ever-changing society. Most remarkable is the generous space allocated to women as main characters in several stories and as contributing authors. The tragic life of "Bozog Alavi," the mystery of "The Snake Stone," and the story of "The American Husband" are all colorful yet authentic depictions of traditional and modern aspects of life in Iran. Although arranged chronologically, the stories do not suggest an evolution in Persian literature, in which the short story is still a new genre. Biographical information and a short bibliography accompany each story. Highly recommended for both academic and public libraries.
- Ali Houissa, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, N.Y.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: Mage Publishers; 1st edition (March 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0934211280
• ISBN-13: 978-0934211284
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,160,771 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deep description of Iran people, November 15, 2001

By 

Nurman Numeiri (Bandung, West Java Indonesia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stories from Iran: A Chicago Anthology 1921-1991 (Paperback)

I found this book very interesting. Actually I bought the book to know more about Iran people and more or less I could see better. This anthology spread from 1921 to 1991, an enough comprehensive to review Iran literature, especially in short stories, a new genre in Iran literature.

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good if you love Iranian Fiction, August 5, 2002

By 

Taimur M. Khan (Philadelphia,PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stories from Iran: A Chicago Anthology 1921-1991 (Paperback)

I had to read this book for an Asian and Middle Eastern History course at the University of Pennsylvania.This book is composed of many short stories like Mirza,Abji Khanom,etc.The writers are some of the best fiction writers Iran has produced.A good book is you like to read about fiction etc.This book gives you a good idea about writers in a foreign country and also about Iran.Some stories are about the secret actions of dissident Iranians as they challenge their own repressive government in order to bring democracy to their homeland.Others tell of the religious life in Iran.Overall, a good book for all people interested in History/Iran/Literature.