Women Without Men: A Novel of Modern Iran

Synopsis

Five women, each trapped by different expectations and limitations, find their lives converging in a secluded orchard on the outskirts of Tehran. A middle-aged housewife longs for independence, a schoolteacher struggles against social convention, a young woman dreams of freedom, and a prostitute searches for dignity beyond the life she has been forced into. As political unrest builds in the background of 1953 Iran, their shared refuge becomes a place where reality and myth intertwine, offering the possibility of transformation in a world determined to deny it.

Blending Persian folklore, magical realism, and modern history, Women Without Men is a landmark of contemporary Iranian literature. Shahrnush Parsipur's lyrical, subversive novel explores womanhood, desire, friendship, and liberation with wit, tenderness, and extraordinary imagination. Banned in Iran shortly after its publication, it has become an internationally celebrated classic and an enduring testament to the power of storytelling.

About the Author

Shahrnush Parsipur is one of Iran's most celebrated contemporary writers. Born in Tehran in 1946, she worked as a journalist and broadcaster before being repeatedly imprisoned by the Iranian government for her writing and political beliefs. Following the publication of Women Without Men, she was arrested again, and the novel was banned in Iran while becoming an underground bestseller. Now living in exile, Parsipur is internationally recognized for her bold, imaginative fiction that blends history, mysticism, and feminist themes. This edition is translated from the Persian by Faridoun Farrokh and includes a preface by artist and filmmaker Shirin Neshat.

Publisher

The Feminist Press at CUNY

Publication Date

January 20, 2012

Format

Paperback

Pages

192

Subjects

Literary Fiction · Fiction in Translation · Iranian Literature · Magical Realism · Feminist Fiction · Historical Fiction

ISBN

9781558617537