A book by Fatemeh Keshavarz
In a direct,
frank, and intimate exploration of Iranian literature and society, scholar,
teacher, and poet Fatemeh Keshavarz challenges popular perceptions of
Iran as a society bereft of vitality
and joy. Her fresh perspective on present-day Iran provides a
rare insight into this rich culture alive with artistic expression but virtually
unknown to most Americans.
Fatemeh Keshavarz
Photo by
David Kilper, Washington University in St.
Louis
Keshavarz introduces readers to two modern Iranian women writers whose
strong and articulate voices belie the stereotypical perception of Iranian women
as voiceless victims in a country of villains. She follows with a lively
critique of the recent best-seller Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in
Books, which epitomizes what Keshavarz calls the "New Orientalist
narrative," a view marred by stereotype and prejudice more often tied to current
geopolitical conflicts than to an understanding of Iran.
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Blending in
firsthand glimpses of her own life--from childhood memories in 1960s Shiraz to her present life as a professor in
America--Keshavarz paints a
portrait of Iran depicting both cultural depth
and intellectual complexity. With a scholar’s expertise and a poet’s hand, she
helps amplify the powerful voices of contemporary Iranians and leads readers
toward a deeper understanding of the country’s past and present.
About the
author
Fatemeh Keshavarz
is professor of Persian and comparative literature and chair of the Department
of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures at Washington University in
St. Louis. She is author of four previous books, including Reading Mystical
Lyric: The Case of Jalal Al-Din Rumi and a volume of poetry.
Series:
Islamic Civilization and Muslim Networks
http://uncpress.unc.edu/books/T-8202.html
A Caravan
Book
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