TEHRAN- “Un homme à distance” ("A Man at A Distance"), a book by French journalist and novelist Katherine Pancol, has recently been published in Persian.

Farzaneh Fari is the translator of the book, which has been published by Qoqnus Publications in Tehran. 

Originally published in 2001, the book revolves around Kay, a librarian living in Fécamp, France. She is isolated and lives with a deep-seated pain from her past, which is hinted at but never explicitly mentioned. One day, she receives a letter from Jonathan Shields, an American who is passing through France, requesting a book. As they exchange letters, their initial formal and literary tone gives way to a more personal and intimate tone.

Their conversations become increasingly tender and violent, revealing secrets and desires that they would not have been able to express otherwise. It becomes clear that there is a hidden truth between them, which they are afraid to confront lest they reveal too much and experience too much pain.

Throughout the book, Kay and Jonathan's correspondence becomes a dance of revelation and concealment, as they navigate their feelings and emotions through the medium of books. But ultimately, the truth will explode, leaving the two protagonists face to face with themselves, without the protection of masks or books.

Katherine Pancol was born in Casablanca, Morocco. At the age of five, she moved to France, where she pursued a career in literature, teaching French and Latin, and took on various odd jobs before becoming a journalist. She remembers her first published words in black ink, and was overjoyed to see her name printed in a newspaper. She went on to write for different publications, honing her skills and learning the "music" of words.

As she continued to write, Katherine discovered a new world within herself. She wrote novels such as "Moi d'abord", "La Barbare", and "Scarlett, si possible", and began to explore different genres and styles. She also wrote scenarios and articles for Elle and Paris-Match, and went on to interview famous personalities such as Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, and Jacques Chirac. She believes that one can always learn and be surprised by life, and that this is what inspires her to write. 

SAB/