TEHRAN-The Persian translation of the novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by American writer Zora Neale Hurston has been released in the book market across Iran.

Amir Hamed Dolatabadi Farahani has translated the book that has been printed by Naqsh-e Jahan Publications, ILNA reported.

Originally published in 1937, it is considered a classic of the Harlem Renaissance, and Hurston's best-known work. The novel explores protagonist Janie Crawford's ripening from a vibrant, but voiceless, teenage girl into a woman with her finger on the trigger of her own destiny.

Fair and long-legged, independent and articulate, Janie Crawford sets out to be her own person—no mean feat for a black woman in the '30s. Janie's quest for identity takes her through three marriages and into a journey back to her roots.

The book tells the epic tale of Janie Crawford, whose quest for identity takes her on a journey during which she learns what love is, experiences life’s joys and sorrows, and comes home to herself in peace. Her passionate story prompted the American novelist and short story writer Alice Walker to say, “There is no book more important to me than this one.”

“Their Eyes Were Watching God” is celebrated for its rich prose and unique narrative voice, incorporating elements of African American vernacular and folklore. Hurston’s portrayal of Janie’s individuality and her defiance of societal norms contributes to the novel’s enduring significance in discussions of African American literature and feminist literature. 

Set in central and southern Florida in the early 20th century, the novel was initially poorly received. Since the late 20th century, however, it has been regarded as influential to both African-American literature and women's literature and is studied in literature courses. 

TIME included the novel in its 2005 list of the 100 best English-language novels published since 1923. Its impact on literature and culture is profound, and the novel has inspired various adaptations, including a television film of the same name in 2005 starring Halle Barry as Janie.

Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960) was an American author, anthropologist, folklorist, and documentary filmmaker. She portrayed racial struggles in the early-20th-century American South and published research on Hoodoo and Caribbean Vodou. She also wrote more than 50 short stories, plays, and essays.

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