Gholam-Hossein Sa’edi: The Garbage Dump [Ashghaldouni]
Gholam-Hossein Sa’edi: The Garbage Dump [Ashghaldouni] When we turned into the next alley, I was completely irritated and angry. My anger at my father had reached boiling point and I was itching to provoke him, to make him angry and shake him to his foundations. My father was stubborn, unfair, never showed consideration for others […]
In a Coffin Made of Nothing, Carried on the Shoulders of No One By Amin Faghiri
He has built himself a room in the center of the world, surrounded by a wasteland of sand and wind. Perhaps now and then, when he goes up on the roof and shields his eyes with his hand, he sees the tree of his childhood and perhaps birds sit on this tree whose species he […]
Twenty Four Hours in Waking and Dreaming By Samad Behrangi
Dear Reader, I did not write the story of “Waking and Dreaming” to teach you a lesson. My intention is to make you more familiar with the children of my homeland and to encourage you to think about the cure for their ailments. If I were to endeavor to document everything that happened to me […]
Manifestation (Tajalli) By Sadeq Hedayat
As dusk began to weave its shadowy carpet across the sky, Hasmik pulled the brim of her hat down to cover her eyebrows and pulled the collar of her cloak closer, as if to ward off the encroaching cold. With swift, deliberate steps, she made her way home, her mind so ensnared by confused thoughts […]
Who Should I Greet Now? By Simin Daneshvar
Who should I greet now? The lady principal has left us, Haj Ismail has disappeared without a trace and my precious daughter has become the prey of wolves in the wilderness… The cat has breathed its last, the tongs fell on the spider and sealed its fate. And now the snow envelops everything in its […]
The Chicken Coop By Mohammad Mohammadali
The phone rang. It was Kashefi. “What’s the status of Mr. Vali’s retirement?” “It’s likely to be finalized today or tomorrow.” “I’ve been considering something for him.” “Thank you for remembering our request, sir!” “Just a question, is he fit for strenuous work?” “Don’t be deceived by his bulky and flabby appearance; he single-handedly oversees […]
The Autumn-Stricken Valley By Jalal Al-e Ahmad
In the afternoon, the final whistle of the mine sounded traditionally in the cold, misty valleys of Zirab. The sound meandered everywhere: it snaked through the branches of the barren trees, slipped under the iron roofs and wooden cladding visible along the valleys, and penetrated the long, dark tunnels where it turned people’s lives into […]
The Darkroom By Sadeq Hedayat
During our moonlit journey through Khonsar, we were joined by a man wrapped in his dark raincoat with his wide-brimmed hat pulled down over his forehead, apparently to shield himself from the outside world and avoid conversation with his fellow travelers. He had a parcel tucked under his arm and carried it with him throughout […]
Customs and Taxes By Jalal Al-e Ahmad
At the border checkpoint, the process was efficient. My identity was verified by comparing my photograph to my face, and upon presenting my recently acquired smallpox vaccination certificate from Khorramshahr, which cost two tomans, I was allowed entry. A diligent policeman took charge of my suitcase, escorting me to the riverbank a short distance away. […]
Someone Else’s Child By Jalal Al-e Ahmad
What could I do? My husband was unwilling to take care of the child with me. The child, from my previous marriage, was not his, and my ex-husband had refused to take the child. What would someone else in my situation have done? I had to live my life too. If my current husband also […]
The School Principal: A Novel by Jalal Al-e Ahmad
The moment I sauntered in, cigarette in hand, I was more standoffish than a cat at a dog show. Lost in my own thoughts, I stood like a statue. After giving me the nod to park myself, the head of the Culture Department took a glance at my hand and then went back to scribbling […]