A Persian Requiem (also published as Savushun) by Simin Daneshvar
This was the first novel published by an Iranian woman (in 1969). Set during World War II, it tells the powerful story of a family that is forced to decide between feeding its own peasants and responding to British army demands for Iranian grain during World War II.

The Blind Owl by Sadegh Hedayat
This hallucinatory masterpiece was published in 1937 by one of the greatest modern Iranian writers. Hedayat uses traditional Iranian symbols to convey existential angst and a precipitous descent into madness.

King of the Benighted by Manuchehr Irani (Houshang Golshiri)
This wrenching novella was first published under a pseudonym. It was inspired by contemporary events in Iran and by the twelfth-century tale, “The Black Dome,” by the poet Nizami Ganjavi.

Stories from Iran: A Chicago Anthology 1921-1991, edited by Heshmat Moayyad
The first Iranian short story collection was published in 1921. This book traces the development of the short story from its earliest Iranian practitioners to writers who came of age after the revolution in 1979. It also includes short biographies and photos of the writers.

Touba and the Meaning of Night by Shahrnush Parsipur
In this unforgettable story of a woman’s life during the tumultuous 20th century in Iran, which spans the end of the monarchy and the beginning of the Islamic Revolution, Parsipur seamlessly weaves together political and social history with legend, myth and fantasy.

My Uncle Napoleon by Iraj Pezeshkzad
This extremely funny novel, which was made into a popular TV serial in Iran in the 1970s, features the antics of an extended Iranian family as seen through the eyes of young lovestruck narrator. It shows a comedic side of Iranian life that few Westerners see.

Veils: Short Stories, by Nahid Rachlin
These spare, beautiful stories about Iranians in the United States and in Iran pack an emotional punch.

The Mullah with No Legs and Other Stories, by Ari Barkeshli Siletz
The author bases these stories on his fondly-remembered youth in Iran before the 1979 revolution, offering a fascinating cast of characters from many different walks of life.

Strange Times, My Dear: The PEN Anthology of Contemporary Iranian Literature, edited by Nahed Mozaffari and Ahmad Karimi Hakkak
This is an essential collection of Iranian fiction and poetry published since 1979, much of it translated into English for the first time. Compared to previous anthologies, it features many more women and diverse points of view.

Modern Persian Short Stories, translated by Minoo Southgate
These short stories, many by noted authors, were published between 1932 and 1973 and provide a glimpse into the lives of typical Iranians. 

We are Iran: The Persian Blogs, by Nasrin Alavi
A recent estimate puts the number of blogs in Farsi at 85,000. This book provides a sample of some of the most provocative writing on the Web from young Iranians who range from student activists to women taxi drivers.

New Visual Culture of Modern Iran: Graphic Design,
Illustration, Photography, by Reza Abedini
This collection of recent posters and photographs demonstrates the inventiveness of Iranian graphic design in recent years.

To See and See Again: A Life in Iran and America, by Tara Bahrampour
Bahrampour was eleven years old when her family came to the United States in 1979. This was the first major book to describe the experience of being Iranian in America in the post-revolutionary diaspora.

Iran: A People Interrupted, by Hamid Dabashi
This passionate view of Iran and its history over the past two centuries comes from a literature professor with a self-confessed “ax to grind” about the damage done by colonialism and imperialism.

Funny in Farsi, by Firoozeh Dumas
Dumas makes us laugh as she recounts her experiences growing up Iranian in America in the 1970s.

Iran Awakening: From Prison to Peace Prize,
One Woman’s Struggle at the Crossroads of History, by Shirin Ebadi
Having won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, Ebadi, a human rights lawyer, describes her struggles on behalf of Iranian women and children, as well as the challenges of her personal life. 

A World Between: Poems, Short Stories and Essays by
Iranian-Americans, and Let Me Tell You Where I’ve Been:
New Writing by Women of the Iranian Diaspora, edited by Persis Karim
These delightful anthologies of fiction and poetry provide wide-ranging perspectives on the experience of being Iranian-American.

Modern Iran: Roots and Results of Revolution, by Nikki R. Keddie
This is a thoughtful yet highly readable textbook on the Iranian Revolution that includes a rich introduction to Iranian history before that turning point.

Lipstick Jihad, by Azadeh Moaveni
The author interweaves her own personal journey as an Iranian-American with stories about reporting on Iran for publications in the United States.

Persepolis 1: The Story of a Childhood, and Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return, by Marjane Satrapi
These moving graphic novels tell of the author’s childhood in Iran after the Islamic Revolution and her return there after her studies in Europe.