Homa Katouzian is the Roshan Cultural Institute Academic Visitor in Iranian Studies, St Antony’s College, and Member of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford. His recent books include Khalil Maleki, The Human Face of Iranian Socialism (2018); Sa’di in Love: An Anthology of Sa’di’s love lyrics in Persian and English (I.B.Tauris, 2016); Iran: Politics, History and Literature (2013); Iran: A Beginners’ Guide (2013).

• Acknowledgments and note on transliterationPrefaceIntroduction 1. The First Three Centuries 2. Rumi, Sa‘di, Hafiz3. Obeyd Zakani 4. From the Classics to the Neoclassics5. The Neoclassical Period: Bazgasht-e Adabi 6. Iraj and Bahar7. Dehkhoda and Eshqi 8. Aref, Seyyed Ashraf, Parvin E‘tesam, etc. 9. Satirical Fiction 10. The satirical Press

Humor in Iran provides a remarkably rich medley of Persian prose and poetry, spanning eleven hundred years, in equally delectable translations into English, offering a rare view into how Iranian poets and writers have dealt with subjects as varied as human foibles, tyranny, politics, religion, forbidden desire, and social taboos.

Homa Katouzian is the Roshan Cultural Institute Academic Visitor in Iranian Studies, St Antony’s College, and Member of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford. His recent books include Khalil Maleki, The Human Face of Iranian Socialism (2018); Sa’di in Love: An Anthology of Sa’di’s love lyrics in Persian and English (I.B.Tauris, 2016); Iran: Politics, History and Literature (2013); Iran: A Beginners’ Guide (2013).

• Acknowledgments and note on transliterationPrefaceIntroduction 1. The First Three Centuries 2. Rumi, Sa‘di, Hafiz3. Obeyd Zakani 4. From the Classics to the Neoclassics5. The Neoclassical Period: Bazgasht-e Adabi 6. Iraj and Bahar7. Dehkhoda and Eshqi 8. Aref, Seyyed Ashraf, Parvin E‘tesam, etc. 9. Satirical Fiction 10. The satirical Press

Humor in Iran provides a remarkably rich medley of Persian prose and poetry, spanning eleven hundred years, in equally delectable translations into English, offering a rare view into how Iranian poets and writers have dealt with subjects as varied as human foibles, tyranny, politics, religion, forbidden desire, and social taboos.

Homa Katouzian is the Roshan Cultural Institute Academic Visitor in Iranian Studies, St Antony’s College, and Member of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford. His recent books include Khalil Maleki, The Human Face of Iranian Socialism (2018); Sa’di in Love: An Anthology of Sa’di’s love lyrics in Persian and English (I.B.Tauris, 2016); Iran: Politics, History and Literature (2013); Iran: A Beginners’ Guide (2013).

• Acknowledgments and note on transliterationPrefaceIntroduction 1. The First Three Centuries 2. Rumi, Sa‘di, Hafiz3. Obeyd Zakani 4. From the Classics to the Neoclassics5. The Neoclassical Period: Bazgasht-e Adabi 6. Iraj and Bahar7. Dehkhoda and Eshqi 8. Aref, Seyyed Ashraf, Parvin E‘tesam, etc. 9. Satirical Fiction 10. The satirical Press

Humor in Iran provides a remarkably rich medley of Persian prose and poetry, spanning eleven hundred years, in equally delectable translations into English, offering a rare view into how Iranian poets and writers have dealt with subjects as varied as human foibles, tyranny, politics, religion, forbidden desire, and social taboos.