An Iranian Odyssey

Rana Soleimani stands among the most powerful and unrelenting voices in contemporary Iranian literature. A literary force whose work has captivated Persian and Swedish audiences, Soleimani's writing fearlessly confronts themes of exile, gender, resistance, and the unbreakable will of the human spirit. Her narratives, often censored in Iran yet celebrated abroad, have established her as a leading figure in Persian literature's global diaspora.Now, in a momentous literary milestone, Soleimani's work makes its long-awaited English-language debut with An Iranian Odyssey, published by Asemana Books. For the first time, Anglophone readers can experience the brilliance that has drawn critical acclaim across borders, a body of work that blends the personal with the political, the poetic with the urgent.Soleimani's fiction is both a mirror and a revelation-capturing the complexities of migration, identity, and the silenced struggles of women under authoritarianism. Works such as Long Live Life, and One Day with the Seven-Thousand-Year-Olds have already earned her a distinguished place in Persian and Swedish literary circles, but An Iranian Odyssey is set to introduce her to an even wider audience, cementing her reputation as a writer of international significance.With prose that is both sharp and lyrical, and narratives that refuse to look away from the painful realities of displacement and defiance, Soleimani's work is essential reading for those seeking a deeper understanding of modern Iran, gender relations, diasporic life and the enduring power of storytelling. An Iranian Odyssey (translate from the Persian by Fereidon Rashidi) is not merely the translation of a remarkable novel-it is the arrival of a major literary force on the global stage.At the very beginning of the novel, Nina encounters a man who once played a pivotal role in her tumultuous life in exile. This meeting prompts her to delve into the past, revisiting the hardships she has endured. Through Nina's memories and reflections, the novel explores themes such as migration, the plight of asylum seekers in Sweden, the cultural clash between Iran and Sweden (and Europe at large), the experience of women in migration, the timeless conflict between men and women, love, betrayal, loneliness, and existential disorientation. In An Iranian Odyssey, Soleimani employs a modern narrative style, offering a bold, unflinching, and engaging portrayal of events. Her storytelling is marked by a striking directness and minimal bias, making for a compelling and thought-provoking read.