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64b. Bonus: Sassan Tabatabai on Blind Owl.
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!
View all episodes
By Suzanne Conklin Akbari and Chris Piuma
4.8
3030 ratings
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!
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