New publication highlights life and works of Simin Daneshvar

TEHRAN,July 8(MNA) -- A new book on the life and works of the eminent author and translator Simin Daneshvar has recently been published in Iran. Entitled “Without the Cedar of Simin”, the book contains comments made by a group of literati about Daneshvar during interviews, which were conducted by Seyyed Javad Mirhashemi. The book has been published by the Tehran-based company, Man. Daneshvar, known as the first Iranian female novelist, died at the age of 90 in March 2012. Mirhashemi carried out the interviews to make a documentary film about Daneshvar, but since his efforts to find a producer were in vain, he transcribed the dialogues for publication in a book. “Over 40 hours of dialogue were recorded in Iran and abroad for the documentary,” he told on Sunday. A brief excerpt of the interviews recorded on a DVD is offered with the book. Mirhashemi said that he may complete his documentary about Daneshvar if he can find a producer. The book also contains articles by some literati who preferred to write about Daneshvar. A chapter of “Without the Cedar of Simin” is dedicated to some rarely seen writings of Daneshvar. Some photos of Danehsvar and her manuscripts are also included. Born in Shiraz in 1921, Simin Daneshvar got her Ph.D. in Persian Language and Literature from the University of Tehran. At age 27, she published her first book titled “Extinguished Fire”, a collection of short stories, the first-ever written by an Iranian female author. “A City Like Heaven”, “To Whom Shall I Say Hello?”, “Wandering Island” and “Wandering Cameleer” are other works. The last part of the trilogy “The Wandering Mountain” has not yet been published. She has also translated “The Chocolate Soldier” by George Bernard Shaw, “Enemies” by Anton Chekov, “Cry, The Beloved Country” by Alan Paton and “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne into Persian.