Reflecting on Contemporary Iran Through the Mirror of Literature

Over the past half century, Iran has undergone profound and rapid changes in its social and cultural life. Literature, as a reflection of the attitudes, values, issues and ways of thinking of each era, is one of the main tools for understanding a culture or society. Contemporary Persian literature, as a product of and testimony to Iranian society, can be seen as a lens held to the historical, political and cultural reality, the daily life of the people and the constant internal forces of transformation. This contribution offers a concise and general overview of the most recent developments in Persian literature in the context of contemporary Iranian society. It is also an introductory article to a special issue of Oriente Moderno entitled Contemporary Iranian Society Through its Literature whose aim is to offer a glimpse of contemporary Iran through its literary production, as well as its cultural and publishing dynamics.