Books have a unique ability to transport you to different worlds. All you need to do is find a comfortable spot, pick up a book (or your phone/tablet), and let yourself be immersed in the new world created by words and imagination. Through books, you can experience the culture, joys, sorrows, and even the struggles of characters. Iran, with its rich literary tradition, offers an array of captivating works, from the timeless poetry of Hafez, Ferdowsi, Khayyam, and Rumi, to the thought-provoking novels of modern Iranian writers like Sadegh Hedayat and Mahmoud Dowlatabadi. Whether you’re interested in literature, history, or Iranian culture, these books provide deep insight into the country’s soul. Here’s a list of ten must-read Iranian books that will help you understand the essence of Iran’s culture.
1. “The Blind Owl” by Sadegh Hedayat
The Blind Owl is one of the most important works in modern Iranian literature. The novel tells the story of a young painter, the narrator, who repeatedly paints a mysterious image of a woman in black, offering a blue lotus flower to an elderly man sitting under a tree. The story begins when the young man sees this image through a hole in the wall. As he reflects on his past, he shares his tragic tale with his shadow, who resembles an owl. Sadegh Hedayat, who brought modernism into Persian literature, takes the reader into the narrator’s descent into madness, filled with a bleak view of society. The Blind Owl has been translated into several languages, including English, German, and French. It is often compared to works by Edgar Allan Poe. This haunting novel gives readers a glimpse into Iran in 1937, during the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi.
2. “The Colonel’s Fall” by Mahmoud Dowlatabadi
The Colonel’s Fall is a powerful narrative that deals with the themes of national identity, history, and family. The story begins on a rainy night when two policemen arrive at a colonel’s home, asking him to take the body of his daughter, who has been tortured and killed. Written by Mahmoud Dowlatabadi, one of Iran’s greatest writers, this novel takes you deep into the complexities of the human experience. Dowlatabadi’s exceptional storytelling skills pull you into the lives of the characters, making you laugh, cry, and live through each sentence. This novel, first published in the 1980s, has been translated into multiple languages and won several prestigious literary awards.
3. “Missing Soluch” by Mahmoud Dowlatabadi
Another masterpiece by Mahmoud Dowlatabadi, Missing Soluch takes you to the eastern part of Iran, where a village in Khorasan becomes the backdrop for a tale of humanity, cruelty, and indifference. The novel focuses on a father, Soluch, who suddenly disappears, and from that moment, tragedy strikes his family. Dowlatabadi’s powerful writing paints a vivid picture of rural life, making you feel as though you are a part of the family experiencing their pain. The story, though centered on one family, also portrays the traditional lifestyle of a village unknown to many. This tragic narrative, which began as an idea during Dowlatabadi’s imprisonment, was his first book translated into English.
4. “Kelidar” by Mahmoud Dowlatabadi: Iran’s Longest Novel
Kelidar is a monumental work, written over 15 years, and is considered one of the greatest Iranian novels of all time. Comprising ten volumes, this epic takes you to a Kurdish village in Khorasan, where the family’s struggles against neighboring villages are depicted in detail. Dowlatabadi’s mastery of description is evident throughout the book, and while reading the entire 10-volume series may take a year, the journey is worth every moment. Kelidar presents the complex dynamics of rural life and the hardships of a Kurdish nomadic family.
5. “Symphony of the Dead” by Abbas Maroufi
Symphony of the Dead explores the life of the Orukhani family in Ardabil, Iran, after World War II. The novel revolves around Jaber, a successful businessman, and his wife and four children, each facing their own struggles. The story is structured like a symphony, with four parts representing different perspectives, voices, and shifts in time and place. The focus is on the conflict between two brothers, Aydin and Orhan. Maroufi’s portrayal of the dead members of the Orukhani family is deeply moving, as they exist in a state of emotional and physical numbness, symbolizing the tragic consequences of their past.
6. “Eyes Like the Sky” by Bozorg Alavi
Eyes Like the Sky is a romantic story that also explores political themes. It follows a painter who becomes obsessed with the eyes of a woman. The novel blends a deep romantic storyline with political undertones, offering insight into Iranian life in the 20th century. Written by Bozorg Alavi, a prominent figure known for his political activism during Reza Shah’s rule, this book is regarded as one of his best works and a significant contribution to Iranian literature.
7. “I Turn Off the Lights” by Zoya Pirzad
Written by Zoya Pirzad, an Iranian-Armenian author from Abadan, I Turn Off the Lights (also known as Things We Left Unsaid in English) is her debut novel and arguably her best work. The novel explores the conflicting emotions of a woman named Clarice Iovazian, who lives with her family in Abadan. Her content life as a wife and mother is shaken when she encounters an Armenian family, stirring long-buried feelings within her. This beautifully written novel, translated into multiple languages, offers an excellent depiction of Iranian-Armenian culture.
8. “The Pig’s Bones and the Leper’s Hands” by Mostafa Mastour
Set in a Tehran apartment, this novel by Mostafa Mastour explores the lives of the inhabitants, each of whom is a victim of life’s uncertainties. Through a series of events, you will feel empathy for these characters, who seem disconnected from one another yet represent the struggles of contemporary Iranian society. Mastour, a prominent modern writer, paints a compelling picture of the chaos of life, and the book has earned multiple literary awards in Iran.
9. “Autumn Is the Last Season of the Year” by Nasim Marashi
This novel focuses on three women in their 30s, each facing different personal challenges. The three friends—Leila, Shabaneh, and Roja—have stayed connected since their university days, but now they are grappling with their own life struggles. Leila is dealing with the pain of being abandoned by her husband, Shabaneh is coping with family issues, and Roja is struggling to move to France for further studies. This heartfelt story of friendship, personal growth, and the quest for a better future was published in 2015 and quickly became a bestseller in Iran.
10. “My Bird” by Fariba Vafi
My Bird tells the story of a 35-year-old woman living in modern-day Tehran, who struggles with balancing her traditional and modern values. Married to a man who dreams of emigrating to Canada, the protagonist faces dilemmas about love, marriage, and the meaning of life. Fariba Vafi’s portrayal of a woman torn between tradition and modernity resonates with many Iranian women, making My Bird one of the must-reads in Iranian literature.
Reading these books will not only provide you with a deeper understanding of Iranian society, history, and culture, but they will also give you a window into the emotions and struggles of the people. Whether you’re interested in historical events, family drama, or philosophical reflections, these books are an essential part of exploring Iran’s literary landscape.
11. “ Savushun” (The Lament) by Simin Daneshvar: A Novel About Modern Iran
” Savushun” is the first novel written by an Iranian woman, and it became one of the most beloved books in Iran. Simin Daneshvar, a writer, translator, and graduate of a university in Iran, later pursued a creative writing scholarship at Stanford University under Wallace Stegner. This novel, published in 1966, is set during World War II. It tells the story of two landowner brothers who react differently to the British demand to harvest their grain. The story is told from the perspective of one of their wives, Zari, who is the main character. One brother refuses to sell his crops to foreigners, particularly the foreign army, while the other brother, believing in British policies to prevent Nazi control of Iran’s oil, tries to convince him to sell. Zari, who is more concerned about her family’s well-being, faces difficult decisions during these turbulent times.
12. “No Friend But the Mountains” by Behrouz Boochani
This award-winning book is a powerful account of Behrouz Boochani’s five years in a prison for refugees on Manus Island, Australia. Boochani, a Kurdish-Iranian journalist, was detained illegally on Manus Island in 2013. The book was written under difficult circumstances, using a mobile phone and initially published in sections. It was later translated from Persian into English. Through a combination of activism, journalism, personal narrative, and philosophical reflection, the book portrays the terrifying conditions faced by refugees and stateless people in the prison-like facility. The book sheds light on the inhumane treatment and the struggles of those who are stuck in the complex, border-industrial system.
13. “Da: A Women’s Narrative of War” by Sayed Zahra Hosseini
This highly popular book offers a deeply moving account of the Iran-Iraq War from the perspective of a woman. It is a cultural phenomenon in Iran, with multiple printings. The first section of the book describes Sayed Zahra Hosseini’s childhood in Iraq and the family’s struggles in the Gulf region after being expelled. The second part describes her horrifying experiences during the first three weeks of the war, dealing with the gruesome aftermath of violence, caring for soldiers and civilians alike. The final section follows Hosseini’s recovery from her injuries and the challenges she faces in her personal life. Based on over a thousand hours of interviews, the book is part of a larger project to record the oral history of Iranian women who participated in the war.
14. “Seeing” (2014) and “Youth” (2015) by Bijan Elahi
Bijan Elahi is a contemporary Iranian poet and the founder of the modernist movement in Persian poetry. Known for his reclusive lifestyle, Elahi spent the last 30 years of his life in isolation in Tehran. These two books contain some of the most important poems from Elahi’s career, offering a glimpse into the world of a poet who pushed the boundaries of Persian modernism and influenced future generations of Iranian poets.
15. “Dying in Your Mother Tongue” by Roja Chamanak
This poetry collection introduces readers to one of the most beloved poets of her generation. Roja Chamanak’s work blends surrealism with the coastal areas where she grew up and the everyday experiences of life in Tehran. Her writing follows in the tradition of prominent Iranian poets like Ahmad Shamloo and Forough Farrokhzad, creating a unique voice for the generation that grew up after the Iranian Revolution and lived through the Iran-Iraq War. Themes such as the sea, love, disconnection from modern life, and folk tales are explored in her lyrical, sometimes surreal, and highly evocative poems.
16. “Selected Poems” by Simin Behbahani
Simin Behbahani, one of the most important 20th-century Iranian poets, is known for modernizing the traditional ghazal form. Over the course of her career, she tackled themes of political, cultural, and moral oppression in Iran, and her works examine the depth of Iran’s historical traumas. Behbahani’s poetry invites readers to consider the emotional and intellectual impacts of Iran’s modern history through her lyrical imagery and sharp social commentary.
17. “The Drowned” by Moniru Ravanipour
This novel, published a decade after the Iranian Revolution, quickly made Moniru Ravanipour famous in Iran. “The Drowned” captures the rich culture of the southwestern region of Iran, a place that experienced intense conflict during the Iran-Iraq War. Ravanipour uses the setting to tell a story about personal and cultural survival amidst the backdrop of war. In addition to this book, Ravanipour has written several short stories and novels that explore themes of war, memory, and identity.
18. “The Restless Manners” by Yacoub Yadali
In this novel, Kamran Khosravi, an engineer who wants to appear as though he died in a car accident, lives in a remote area of Iran with a tough job protecting dams from looters. His wife, Fariba, is unhappy with this life and has left him for her family in Isfahan. She is torn between staying with him or leaving. However, Kamran’s situation is more complicated than anyone could have imagined. The book won the best novel of the year award in 2004 and was recognized as one of the top ten novels of the decade in Iran.
19. “Neighbors” by Ahmad Mahmoud
Set during the nationalization of Iran’s oil industry in the early 1950s, “Neighbors” is about a young man named Khaled from a neighborhood in Ahvaz who becomes caught up in the conflict between Iran and Britain over control of oil. The novel portrays the struggles of the working class and highlights the moral dilemmas of a generation that helped lay the groundwork for those fighting for democracy in Iran today. Published in 1974, this book earned Ahmad Mahmoud recognition as a leading storyteller of his time.
20. The Poetry of Hafez Shirazi (1315-1390)
Hafez, one of the greatest poets in Persian literature, is widely celebrated for his ghazals, which explore themes of love, spirituality, and human existence. Born in Shiraz in the 14th century, he spent most of his life there, deeply immersed in the city’s cultural and intellectual life. His work, particularly his Divan, contains nearly 500 ghazals that continue to resonate with readers today, blending emotional depth with mystical insight. Hafez’s poetry is admired for its beauty and timeless wisdom, often quoted in Persian culture. For English speakers, translations like “Faces of Love: Hafez and the Poets of Shiraz” (2019) by Dick Davis and “Hafez: Translations and Interpretations of the Ghazals” (2014) by Geoffrey Squires offer accessible versions of his work, capturing its lyrical energy and spiritual depth.
21. The Poetry of Sa’di Shirazi (1210-1291)
Sa’di Shirazi, a 13th-century Persian poet, is known for his wise and practical teachings on morality and human behavior, conveyed through his works Bustan (The Orchard) and Golestan (The Rose Garden). His poetry, filled with aphorisms and moral stories, explores themes such as justice, kindness, and the interconnectedness of all people. His most famous aphorism, “Bani Adam,” stresses the idea that all humans are part of the same community, and the suffering of one affects everyone. Sa’di’s works have been translated into English, with notable versions like “The Gulistan of Sa’di: Bilingual English and Persian Edition with Vocabulary” (2017) by Thackston M. Wheeler, making his valuable lessons on life accessible to a global audience.
22. The Poetry of Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rumi (1207-1273)
Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rumi, or simply Rumi, was a 13th-century poet and mystic from the greater Khorasan region, which is now part of Afghanistan or Tajikistan. He moved to Konya (in present-day Turkey) after the Mongol invasion. Rumi’s works, heavily influenced by Sufism, explore divine love and unity with God. His transformation into a mystic began after meeting the wandering scholar Shams-e Tabrizi. His major works include the Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi and Masnavi-ye Ma’navi, a six-volume spiritual epic. Rumi’s poetry, translated in works like “The Masnavi” by Jawid Mojaddedi, continues to inspire readers worldwide, offering deep spiritual wisdom and a universal message of love.
23. The Poetry of Fariduddin Attar (1145-1221)
Fariduddin Attar was a prominent Persian poet and mystic, deeply influential in Sufism. His most famous work, The Conference of the Birds (Manteq-ot-Teyr), is an allegorical tale where birds embark on a journey to find their king, Simorgh, representing the soul’s quest for spiritual truth. As the birds pass through seven valleys, each representing different human flaws, they learn that the Simorgh is within themselves. This masterpiece is filled with philosophical insights and offers a profound message of self-realization and enlightenment. Attar’s Tadhkirat Al-Auliya (Biographies of the Saints) and Elahi-Nameh (The Book of Divine) also explore spiritual themes, showcasing his ability to blend storytelling with deep mysticism. His works have shaped Persian literature and continue to inspire readers worldwide.
24. The Poetry of Nezami Ganjavi (1141-1209)
Nezami Ganjavi, one of Persia’s greatest poets, is known for his romantic and epic poetry, especially his Khamsa (Quintet), which includes five long narrative poems. His Layli and Majnun, a tragic love story, is a prominent example of Persian romantic literature, often compared to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Nezami’s Haft Peykar (The Seven Beauties) presents an allegorical tale about the Sassanian king Bahram V, who seeks wisdom through the stories told by his brides. These tales offer valuable lessons on self-knowledge and virtue. Nezami’s Khosrow o Shirin (Khosrow and Shirin) and Eskandar-Nâmeh (The Book of Alexander) are also integral to his legacy, offering timeless insights into love, fate, and personal growth. His poetry is celebrated for its rich imagery and deep moral lessons.
25. The Poetry of Omar Khayyam (1048-1131)
Omar Khayyam was a Persian philosopher, mathematician, and poet, best known for his Rubaiyat (quatrains). These short poems explore themes of life, love, and the uncertainty of existence, often questioning the afterlife and celebrating the joys of the present. Khayyam’s poetry is straightforward yet profound, urging readers to embrace the fleeting nature of life. His most famous translation, done by Edward FitzGerald in 1859, introduced Khayyam’s work to the Western world and made him a household name. The Rubaiyat resonates with readers across cultures, offering timeless reflections on the human experience. Khayyam’s ability to capture the essence of life in simple, poignant verses continues to make his work relevant to this day.
Conclusion: A Rich Literary Tradition
There are undoubtedly many more Iranian books you should explore, but these are some of the top selections that give you a window into Iran’s rich cultural, historical, and emotional landscape. As you read these books, you will see that Iranian literature, like its culture and history, is incredibly deep and diverse. We hope you enjoy reading these Iranian works and consider adding them to your library for an even deeper understanding of Iran.
