Publication of Forough Farrokhzâd's complete works celebrates a voice of freedom

A major literary event is unfolding with the publication of the complete poetry and prose works of the renowned Iranian poet Forough Farrokhzâd. This comprehensive collection, expertly translated and prefaced by Leili Anvar and Sébastien Jallaud, offers readers a deep dive into the singular voice of an artist celebrated for her intellectual bravery and commitment to freedom.

Farrokhzâd, born in Tehran in 1934 and tragically passing away in 1967, is distinguished not only as a great poet but also as a profound prose writer. Her work is characterized by a rare combination of elevated philosophical thought, spiritual depth, and remarkable intellectual courage. This new volume aims to capture the essence of her powerful and authentic voice.

“

What matters is the voice, the voice in its singularity, its authenticity, its universality.

Leili Anvar describes Farrokhzâd's voice as "singular, authentic, and universal." She emphasizes the poet's "loud and clear cry for freedom: to move, to be seen, to love, to desire, to make her voice heard, to speak as a poet, in her true name, without a veil and without false modesty." This collection, titled "J’irai jusqu’au rivage du soleil" (I Will Go to the Shore of the Sun), allows readers to experience this unvarnished and compelling voice, poem after poem.

The publication is particularly significant for its presentation of Farrokhzâd's complete oeuvre, making her influential writings more accessible to a wider audience. It celebrates a voice that dared to challenge conventions and express itself with unyielding honesty, solidifying her legacy as a pivotal figure in modern Persian literature.

“

who cried out loud her right to freedom: to move, to be seen, to love, to desire, to make her voice heard, to speak as a poet, in her true name, without a veil and without false modesty.