About this list

Literary Hub , 33 Books

This list, titled '100 Essential Books by Iranian Writers: An Introduction & Nonfiction,' was curated by Niloufar Talebi and published by the Asian American Writers' Workshop (AAWW). It aims to highlight significant works by Iranian writers that are available in English, both from within Iran and the diaspora, with a focus on overcoming the challenges of censorship, lack of governmental support, and geopolitical obstacles that limit the dissemination of Iranian literature internationally. The selection criteria emphasized works that resist stereotypes and offer diverse perspectives beyond historical events like the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The list includes books published between 2000 and 2020 and prioritizes a broad representation of authors, with only one title per writer, and excludes theatrical, journalistic, sociological, and scholarly works. This effort seeks to foster cultural exchange and elevate Iranian literature's status within world literature, encouraging a re-centering of Iranian cultural identity beyond Western validation.

This list was originally published in 2020 and was added to this site over 1 year ago.