February 12, 2023

64b. Bonus: Sassan Tabatabai on Blind Owl.

Listen Later

37 minutes

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.

Support The Spouter-Inn on Patreon. Thank

you!

...more

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The Spouter-Inn

By Suzanne Conklin Akbari and Chris Piuma

4.8

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February 12, 2023

64b. Bonus: Sassan Tabatabai on Blind Owl.

Listen Later

37 minutes

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.

Support The Spouter-Inn on Patreon. Thank

you!

...more