Lost in Translation? The Challenges and Triumphs of Translating Persian Poetry
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Persian poetry, with its lush metaphors, intricate rhyme schemes, and layered meanings, is one of the world’s richest literary traditions. From the mystic ecstasies of Rumi to the bittersweet ironies of Hafez, from Ferdowsi’s epic grandeur to Khayyam’s philosophical quatrains, Persian verse has captivated audiences for over a millennium.
But …
Echoes of Rumi and Hafez in Western Thought and Literature
In the last two centuries, few voices from the East have resonated so deeply in the West as those of Jalal al-Din Rumi and Khwāja Shams al-Din Hafez. These Persian poets—one a Sufi mystic, the other a lyrical master—have crossed borders of language, culture, and time, finding new life …
How Persian Literature Shaped Ottoman and Mughal Court Cultures
When we think of Persian literature, we often envision the rose-scented verses of Hafez, the mystical couplets of Rumi, or the epics of Ferdowsi. But Persian literature was more than a national treasure—it was a cultural force that transcended borders. From Istanbul to Delhi, it played a foundational role in …
Persian Short Stories: A Window into Contemporary Life and Thought
In the grand tradition of Persian literature—famed for its mystical poetry and epic verse—the short story is a relatively modern form. Yet over the past century, it has evolved into one of the most expressive and accessible genres in Iranian literary life. Persian short stories, compact in form but vast …
The Development of the Modern Persian Novel: From Jamalzadeh Onward
Persian literature, long celebrated for its dazzling poetry, began a bold new chapter in the 20th century: the era of the modern Persian novel. This evolution marked not only a stylistic transformation but also a profound cultural shift, as prose fiction became a medium for exploring identity, politics, and …
Tazkireh: The Art of Persian Biographical Dictionaries and Literary History
In the vast literary landscape of Persian culture, one fascinating genre serves as both a mirror of the literary tradition and a window into the lives of its creators: the Tazkireh (also spelled Tadhkira or Tazkirah). These biographical anthologies—part biography, part literary criticism, part anthology—form an essential part of Persian …
Kalīla wa Dimna: Ancient Fables with Enduring Moral Lessons
Few works of world literature have traveled as far or taught as timelessly as Kalīla wa Dimna. Originating in ancient India as the Pañcatantra, this collection of animal fables was translated into Pahlavi in the 6th century CE, then into Arabic by Ibn al‑Muqaffaʿ in the 8th century, and from there …
Beyond Poetry: An Introduction to Classical Persian Prose
While Persian poetry often takes center stage in discussions of Iran’s literary heritage, classical Persian prose boasts its own golden lineage of wisdom, storytelling, and rhetorical mastery. From royal manuals to saintly biographies, moral parables to picaresque adventures, these prose works shaped not only the Persian language but the very …