Hmmm, maybe times really are a'changing, along with the regime ?
First Deal Reached With Iran Halts Its Nuclear Program, and now, in really big news, the Tehran Times reports that Culture Ministry mulling publication of The Colonel in Iran.
As I mentioned last week, the great Mahmoud Dowlatabadi recently won the 2013 Jan Michalski Prize for Literature for his novel, The Colonel -- published first in German, then French, and then in English, first in the UK (by Haus), the US (Melville House) -- but so far not in its original Persian back home.
But they now report:
Cheshmeh -- who have published quite a few his books in Iran; see their catalogue -- submitted the book for publication-approval back in 2008, so this is long overdue -- but at least it looks like Iranian readers might finally get to see this important book, too.
As I mentioned last week, the great Mahmoud Dowlatabadi recently won the 2013 Jan Michalski Prize for Literature for his novel, The Colonel -- published first in German, then French, and then in English, first in the UK (by Haus), the US (Melville House) -- but so far not in its original Persian back home.
But they now report:
Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance is mulling over publication of the Persian version of Mahmud Dowlatabadi's acclaimed novel The Colonel, Deputy Culture Minister for Cultural Affairs Seyyed Abbas Salehi announced on Monday.Indeed, it sounds like they recognize the treasure in their midsts they've been overlooking:
"I've read the book; I read all the books written by Dowlatabadi since I was a young man. He is the pride of Iran's literature and the Khorasan region, so the publication of his book in Iran would be an honor for the country," Salehi said.Damn if that doesn't sound promising.
Cheshmeh -- who have published quite a few his books in Iran; see their catalogue -- submitted the book for publication-approval back in 2008, so this is long overdue -- but at least it looks like Iranian readers might finally get to see this important book, too.