In classical narrative poetry, there’s these formulaic repetitions that come up, right? And then we have these very weird formulaic repetitions that come up in Blind Owl. And I think the function is completely the opposite in the classical works and in this modern work. [In classical poetic narratives, repetitions] keep the reader kind of grounded. It’s that same familiar signpost that keeps you on the right track. When we get to Blind Owl, when we get these very odd repetitions … it unhinges the reader, right? It makes you feel like you’re in some weird dream and you can’t get up.

Sassan Tabatabai is a poet, translator, and scholar of Medieval Persian literature. He is Master Lecturer in World Languages and Literatures and the Core Curriculum, and Coordinator of the Persian Language Program at Boston University. His translations of Persian poetry have appeared in numerous journals, and he is the author of Father of Persian Verse: Rudaki and His Poetry, Sufi Haiku, and Uzunburun: Poems. He is also the translator of the novel Blind Owl by Sadeq Hedayat, published by Penguin Classics. His forthcoming books, both scheduled for release in spring 2023 are Ferry to Malta: Poems and Translations, and a Persian translation of the poetry of David Ferry.

He joins Suzanne and Chris to talk about the challenges in translating prose and poetry, and to further explore the influences and the intricacies of Sadeq Hedayat’s novel Blind Owl.

SHOW NOTES.

Sassan Tabatabai on Twitter.

Sassan Tabatabai’s books and translations: Blind Owl. Father of Persian Verse: Rudaki and His Poetry. Sufi Haiku. Uzunburun: Poems. Also some translations of Rumi.

Our episodes on Blind Owl, The Conference of the Birds, and Frankenstein.

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