The International Booker Prize 2026 nominated author and translator on the importance of Iranian women writers, and the books originally written in Persian that everyone should read
Could you tell us about the inspirations behind Women Without Men?
I drew inspiration from my surroundings and memories. Since a child, I wanted to become a writer; to show that Iranian women can write. Historically in Iran, half the population – women – were not to show desire for writing.
I read Simin Daneshvar’s novel Souvashun (1969), the first novel in Persian written by a female author. My novel Dog and the Long Winter (1974) was the second book written by a woman to be printed in Iran. Now the Iranian women who inspire others to write are many, and I am proud to be one of them.
How did you go about writing the book?
I usually write at night. It often happens that I write until the morning. I rarely write during the day. I work at a computer, though before I first bought one, I used pencil and paper. I write my books quickly and I never edit them.
Women Without Men consists of three stories: those of Zarrinkolah, Mrs Farrokhlaqa Sadroddin Golchehreh, and Mahdokht – these were first printed separately in Tehran. The moment I was released from prison in 1980, I decided to work them into a novel, and I wrote the stories about Munis and Fa’iza. This was printed after the Islamic Revolution, and because of this book I went to prison again.
The theme of this year’s International Booker Prize campaign is ‘Fiction beyond borders’ – how do you think translated fiction helps readers see beyond geographical boundaries, and why is that important?
Translation is crucial because it gives us the opportunity to encounter different cultures. American and European books, by way of translation, helped me to become a writer.
The International Booker Prize is celebrating its 10th birthday in its current form this year – how do you think the award has changed the perception of translated fiction over the last decade?
The prize has helped people find new worlds they may not have discovered otherwise. With translations of the books, we become familiar with the spirit of other languages. I must though admit that I haven’t been very familiar with the Booker Prizes, as this is the first time I’m being published in the United Kingdom.
Shahrnush Parsipur
© MandanaSince a child, I wanted to become a writer; to show that Iranian women can write
— Shahrnush Parsipur
Could you tell us about a book that made you fall in love with reading as a child?
The first book I read as a child was the Morning Stories by Sobhi Mohtadi. They were children’s tales, and I can’t say they had much of an impact on me. I later read Great Expectations, which had been translated into Persian. I read this book 36 times in a row. I think this book taught me how to write (though I’ve never read anything else by Dickens.)
And could you tell us about a book that made you want to become a writer?
Alongside Dickens’ Great Expectations, I’ve always loved Dostoyevsky. I read all his books, and they have shaped my worldview. Tolstoy wrote that Dostoyevsky was the best Russian novelist, but that he wrote badly. I think I write badly too, even if I’ve written good books. Kafka’s The Metamorphosis was another book that greatly influenced my mind.
Is there a book that changed the way you think about the world?
The book that changed the way I think is not a novel but the I Ching. It was a revelation; it speaks about duality in the world. I read the Wilhelm translation, which is said to be one of the best.
I found this translation in Tehran. It was when Professor Toshihiko Izutsu, the Japanese sage, was in Iran and he spoke about the I Ching at the Royal Philosophy Society. Later, when I was in France, I tried to learn Chinese, but unfortunately after two years there, the Islamic Revolution had begun, and I went back to Iran.
Which book written in Persian should everyone read, and why?
The poems of Hafez are for every human being. He’s a genius; his poetry is very simple, and therefore infinitely difficult. Anyone can understand the poems, each of us in our own way, and Iranians have used his work to understand their fate.
Could you tell us what it was about Women Without Men that made you want to translate it?
Upon an initial reading, I discovered very sensitive reflections of life in contemporary Iran, especially Shahrnush’s insight into man/woman relationships.
How did you go about translating the book?
Actually, I read the book twice before beginning the translation, and worked on it exclusively, chapter by chapter, for about two months until it was completed.
The theme of this year’s International Booker Prize campaign is ‘Fiction beyond borders’ – how do you think translated fiction helps readers see beyond geographical boundaries, and why is that important?
Translation is an intellectual endeavour, a bridge connecting aspects of one culture to those of another. Emotions, needs, and desires are the same across cultures and fiction illuminates this.
The International Booker Prize is celebrating its 10th birthday in its current form this year – how do you think the award has changed the perception of translated fiction over the last decade?
This cultural and intellectual enterprise has widened the periphery of intercultural endeavours, showcasing writers from around the world.
Faridoun Farrokh
– author photo supplied by Penguin International WritersTranslation is a bridge connecting aspects of one culture to those of another
— Faridoun Farrokh
Could you tell us about a book that made you fall in love with reading as a child?
Actually, I got into the habit of reading magazines, just developed in Iran, about the time I was gaining literacy. The first book I read was Obeid Zakani’s MOUSE & CAT. It symbolically identified traits that dominate human life and made me realise that literature reflected life.
And could you tell us about a book that made you want to become a translator?
My first book-length translation was Goli Taraghi’s novel, A Mansion in the Sky. It was the first book written by a woman that captured modern, everyday life in Iran, particularly dealing with issues of romantic relationships between men and women.
Is there a translator whose work you always look out for?
I think of Mohammad-Reza Ghanoonparvar in this connection. I applaud his accuracy as a translator, the choices he makes, and the volume of genres he translates.
Is there a work of fiction originally written in Persian that you’d recommend to English-language readers?
I would recommend Sadeq Hedayat’s The Blind Owl. It explores aspects of love, hate, greed, and ethical questions.
And, finally, which International Booker-nominated book do you think everyone should read?
The only one I’ve read is Heart Lamp. Although it is a book of stories, rather than a novel, it also deals with the oppression of women in a realistic format.
