Selected poems middle east literature in translation. As a muslim woman writing in iran, simin behbahanis collections contain some of the seminal work of twentiethcentury persian literature. Awareness archives page 46 of 92 the borgen project. The poem banu, our lady is an expression of outrage by simin behbahani, author of over a dozen books of poetry in persian and recipient of the human rights watchhellmanhammet grant, for her struggle for freedom of expression in iran.
She was nominated for the nobel prize in literature in 1997, she. Jun 01, 1999 simin behbahani is a distinguished voice in iranian literature. See more ideas about poet, persian poem, farsi calligraphy. Simin behbahani 1927 is one of irans most accomplished writers and possibly its greatest living poet. Selected poems middle east literature in translation 9780815605546 by behbahani, simin and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books.
Simin behbahani books list of books by author simin. Simin behbahani is a distinguished voice in iranian literature. Dec 01, 1998 as a muslim woman writing in iran, simin behbahanis collections contain some of the seminal work of twentiethcentury persian literature. Janus pannonius grand prize for poetry to charles bernstein. Images of men in persian literature, montreal lectures. Simin name project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. She has expanded the range of the traditional persian verse forms and has produced some of the most significant works of the persian literature in the.
Sep 03, 2014 simin behbahani, the lioness of iran, died on august 19th, aged 87. Omid behbahani, bahram beyzaie, farzaneh milani, marie ostby and kaveh safa bahram beyzaie. As a muslim woman writing in iran, simin behbahani s collections contain some of the seminal work of twentiethcentury persian literature. Simin behbahani was a notable influence, and perhaps encouraged the younger poet to write on contemporary subjects in traditional forms, though shams is equally at ease in free verse. Aug 28, 2014 simin behbahani, who has died aged 87, was irans most famous female poet, credited with reinventing the ghazal, the lyrical sonnet associated with the classical persian poets.
Her mother, fakhr ozma arghoon fakhr adel khalatbari, was a noted feminist, teacher. Apr 27, 2020 translated as the book of kings, the shahnameh spans the history of iran from mythical times until the sassanid period in the 7th century, telling the tales of heroic blacksmiths, despotic rulers and wicked demons who form the currents of good and evil which run throughout human history. Mar 25, 2010 this article is more than 11 years old. In a balance of artful inquiry and shocking realism, behbahani s language and imagery probe the depths of. Actress photo iranian actors, persian women, actress. One of her first innovations was with the ghazal, a sonnetlike persian poetic form. Simin behbahani published many works of persian poetry and literature, particularly as sonnets, which were all met with acclaim and enthusiasm from both readers and critics. Aug 19, 2014 irans national poet simin behbahani died tuesday of heart failure at the age of 87, according to the countrys official news agency. Mehdi gharacheh daghi, translator in a short speech, emphasized on the importance of holding such sessions for introducing.
At 7pm that same day new books with the hungarian translations of. Behbahani contributed to a historic development by adding theatrical subjects and daily events and conversations to poetry using the ghazal style of poetry. In her new book, words not swords, farzaneh milani, professor of womens studies and persian literature at the university of virginia, quote s behbahani as she recalls her interrupted speech in. I first discovered behbahanis work in the book wounded rose in which some of her poems were presented in english along with the works of two of her contemporaries.
Simin behbahani was a towering figure in persian literature who became known as the lioness of iran for poetry in which she elegantly and courageously laid bare the suffering of the destitute. Ali behbahani the son of simin behbahani talked about novel writings of lu. She was known for repurposing classical persian poetic forms to explore contemporary themes, often inverting the traditional ghazal structure by using a female narrator. The lioness of iran has been nominated for the nobel prize in literature twice.
Her first book in hungarian is published by the hungarian pen club and. Aug 19, 2014 simin behbahani, the poet known as the lioness of iran for her defiant verses opposing dictatorship and defending the rights of women, has died at age 87, according to media reports. The 86yearsold persian poet was present at the ceremony on 29 of august in pecs. Poet simin behbahani, known as the lioness of iran, has died. Her first book in hungarian is published by the hungarian pen club and pluralica during this week. And this book provides part of the proof that she desrves the title. Simin behbahani, her surname also appears as bihbahani was a prominent iranian contemporary poet, lyricist and activist. Though this marriage interrupted her higher education, she went on to earn a law degree from. Selected poems modern middle east literature in translation series, and more on. The recording ends with a tenminute collaborative reading from the book by both. Simin behbahani was awarded the janus pannonius award in 20. Following that shadab vajdi, shirin razavian, and ziba karbasi the poetesses of london read some poems for lu.
See more ideas about persian pattern, black and white aesthetic, persian poem. The 2015 janus pannonius grand prize for poetry has been awarded to charles bernstein and giuseppe conte. Her work has attracted the attention and admiration of an evergrowing readership inside and outside iran. Her first verse collection, setare shekasteh the broken sitar, was published in 1951. Poetical works the broken lute sehtare shekasteh, 1951. Strange times, my dear by nahid mozaffari, 2005, arcade pub. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive. Activism, awareness, development, economy, global poverty, nonprofit organizations and ngos, poverty reduction, volunteer bankers without borders. Iranian literature, body of writings in the iranian languages produced in an area encompassing eastern anatolia, iran, and parts of western central asia as well as afghanistan and the western areas of pakistan. Description as a muslim woman writing in iran, simin behbahanis collections contain some of the seminal work of twentiethcentury persian literature. The twoway simin behbahani, renowned for her piercing and fierce language, published 19 books of poetry over the course of six decades. Behbahani published her first poem when she was only 14 years old, and in the years that followed, she gradually developed her own style of writing as she became a renowned poet. The award ceremony will take place on august 29 in pecs, the birthplace of janus pannonius.
Wounded rose introduces three contemporary iranian poets who have tried to continue a tradition, dating back to almost 1100 years, in three different ways. Simin behbahani, renowned for her piercing and fierce language, published 19 books of poetry over the course of six decades. Abolhasan tahaminejad and omid behbahani on simin behbahani. Laszlo jankovits book, nobilis ingenio the poetry of. Her first book in hungarian is published by the hungarian pen. Hayate no on thursday, november 23, a session was held on cultivation of book reading in the complex of milad noor also celebrating the publication of simin behbahani s new book. Milan and pecs, hungary the birthplace of pannonius, which will include.
She is known for her poems in a ghazalstyle of poetic form. Samad behrangi persian pattern, iranian art, book writer, tehran, playwright. See all books authored by simin behbahani, including the story of zahra, and a cup of sin. Simin behbahani, one of irans most prominent poets, was born to a cultured family and raised amongst the literary elite. Simin behbahani khalili was born in 1927 in tehran, iran, of literary parents.
Burial place beheshte zahra nationality iranian education university of tehran. The miami herald the sultan of todays ghazals is indeed simin behbahani. See more ideas about persian culture, persia, philosophers. Biographical encyclopedia of the modern middle east and north africa. As an undergraduate at the university of tehran, her political involvement led to a warrant for her arrest, and she fled to her hometown mashhad. Her father, abbas khalili, writer and newspaper editor, had tens of publications to his credit. A sip of dream a true dream of omid behbahani depicted by tahmas ray. Before finishing high school, behbahani married hassan behbahani, a high school teacher. Many iranians regard simin behbahani as the queen of persian poetry. Janus pannonius grand prize for poetry to charles bernstein and. Janus pannonius is now buried in the cathedral of pecs.
The prize was founded in 2012 by the hungarian pen club an affiliate of international pen. The most famous iranian poets 10 inspiring persian poets. Simin behbahani, renowned iranian poetess ncri women committee. Farzaneh milani teaches persian language and literature and womens studies at the university of virginia and is the author of veils and words. Simin behbahani started writing poetry at twelve and published her first poem at the age of fourteen. Simin behbahani persian 20 july 1927 19 august 2014 was a prominent. Aug 19, 2014 simin behbahani, renowned for her piercing and fierce language, published 19 books of poetry over the course of six decades. Behbahani, simin 1927 simin behbahani nee khalili is an iranian poet known both for her prolific body of poetry and innovations in literature, as well as her participation in campaigns for social and cultural change, freedom of expression, and womens rights issues. Written over almost a halfcentury, much of her work reflects the traumatic experiences that have shaped recent iranian history. Selected poems middle east literature in translation 9780815605546 by behbahani, simin and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. She was an icon of modern persian poetry, iranian intelligentsia and literati who affectionately refer to her as the lioness of iran. Oct 27, 2019 simin khalili, better known as simin behbahani 20 july 192719 august 2014 is one of the most prominent contemporary iranian poets, lyricist, and social activists. When i parted her for australia, to teach in australian national university, my mother at the age of 87 had lost lots of her physical strength. I first discovered behbahani s work in the book wounded rose in which some of her poems were presented in english along with the works of two of her contemporaries.
In 2014, yves bonnefois france and adonis syria won the prize, which is modelled on the nobel prize for literature. Building bridges through the enchanted medium of persian poetry. It had traditionally been written from the perspective. Elaine equis latest book is the intangibles from coffee house press. Simin behbahani has revived the ghazal or sonnet form,injecting it with fresh vigour by introducing topics of contemporary life and concern. Her poems offer apertures into the daily life of the iranian people, revealing its subtleties. She used the char pareh style of nima yooshij and subsequently turned to ghazal.
Simin behbahani is the author of maybe its the messiah shayad kemasee hast 5. Vocalist, parisa vaaleh has always wished to relay the message of love, peace, and spirituality through her voice. Simin behbahani, her surname also appears as bihbahani persian. The oldest surviving texts are contained in the avesta, the sacred book of.
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