London,
Oct 9, IRNA - Distinguished British scholar and eminent Iranologist
Peter Avery, has died in
the UK at the age of 86.
Professor Avery was honoured by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a
literary figure in the First International Farabi Festival this year with a
prestigious award for devotion to studying humanities including the Persian
literature and history.
In a ceremony to honor the professor at the
Iranian Embassy in London in May this year, he said his biggest happiness in
life had been his experience of studying Iran and Persia.
"I whole-heartedly appreciate the honor (Farabi Prize) by the Iranian government
given to me. I am happy to have connections with Iran and Iranians who enjoy a
culture rich of civilization, kindness, truthfulness and understanding," he said
in the ceremony.
Iranian Ambassador to London Rasoul Movahedian
condoled the chancellor at Cambridge University and said that he hoped other
scholars continue Avery's path in introducing Iranian culture and literature.
Avery, who began his career as an educational liaison officer with the
Anglo-Iranian Oil Company in 1949, also described the Islamic Republic as "my
second homeland".
In 1958, he came to the University of Cambridge as a lecturer in Persian
Language, Literature and History, becoming a fellow of King's College in 1964.
He spent many years of his life on studying the Persian literature. He has many
writings about Iran's history and the Persian literature.
His translation work has also included such lasting Iranian masterpieces as the
Hafez Book of Poems, Attar Neishabouri's "Manteq Al-Teir" (Conference of the
Birds) and Omar Khayyam's Quatrains, first published in 1979.
Professor Avery authored several books in the history of Iran including the "The
Age of Expansion and Medieval Persia" and "Modern Iran" published in 1965.
During his career, he served as one of the members of the editorial board of the
multi-volume "Cambridge History of Iran" and edited its final volume entitled
"From Nader Shah to the Islamic Republic" published in 1991.
... Payvand News - 10/09/08 ... --
