TEHRAN – Three books from Western literature have recently been published in Persian in Iran.

German writer Patrick Suskind’s play “The Double Bass”, French author Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt’s novel “Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran” have both been rendered into Persian by Hossein Mansuri, while Mahin Tari is the translator of Italian writer and filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini’s poem collection, “The Ashes of Gramsci”.

“The Double Bass” is an extended monologue delivered by a double bass player, who speaks to the audience in his small sound-proofed apartment while drinking beer.

“Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran”, which was adapted for the screen in ۲۰۰۳, is about an old Muslim man who gives paternal love to a Jewish boy, receiving love and respect in return.

All three books have been published by Hekmat-e Kalameh Publications in Tehran. 

Photo: Front covers of the Persian versions of “The Double Bass” (L), “Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran” (C) and “The Ashes of Gramsci”.

ABU/MMS/YAW