TEHRAN – “Conversations with Professor Y” by the French writer Louis-Ferdinand Céline has been published in Persian by Ney.

The 1955 novel has been translated by Mahshid Nonahali.

The narrative focuses on discussions about literature between an author and an academic. 

The first two-thirds of the novel were published in “Nouvelle Revue Française” in 1954, and the finished work through Éditions Gallimard the following year.

Nancy Ramsey of The New York Times reviewed the book in 1986, and wrote that “much of ‘Conversations’ is hilarious.”

She added, “Céline is self-mocking as he tries to get his name back into circulation. He compares an eager genius to the new Big Bubbly soap product, is adamant in his revulsion at the ascendancy of ideas over emotion and is passionate in his desire to capture the immediacy of conversation on the page.”

She also noted, “‘Conversations’ is essential for Céline fans, and a good, if tame, introduction for the uninitiated.”

Céline is best known for his works “Journey to the End of the Night” and “Death on the Installment Plan”. 

His highly innovative writing style using Parisian vernacular, vulgarities, and intentionally peppering ellipses throughout the text was used to evoke the cadence of speech.

Photo: Front cover of the Persian edition of Louis-Ferdinand Céline’s “Conversations with Professor Y”.

MMS/YAW