Iranian Odyssey

Published:

An Iranian Odyssey
A novel by

Rana Soleimani

An Iranian Odyssey is Rana Soleimani’s third book and her first novel, narrating the Odyssean journey of “a woman in migration.” Translated from Persian by Feridon Rashidi, this modern, introspective novel unfolds over nearly five years, centering on the life of a woman named Nina. At the very beginning of the novel, Nina encounters a man who once played a pivotal role in her tumultuous life in exile. This meeting prompts her to delve into the past, revisiting the hardships she has endured.

Through Nina’s memories and reflections, the novel explores themes such as migration, the plight of asylum seekers in Sweden, the cultural clash between Iran and Sweden (and Europe at large), the experience of women in migration, the timeless conflict between men and women, love, betrayal, loneliness, and existential disorientation.

In An Iranian Odyssey, Soleimani employs a modern narrative style, offering a bold, unflinching, and engaging portrayal of events. Her storytelling is marked by a striking directness and minimal bias, making for a compelling and thought-provoking read.

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Rana Soleimani

Rana Soleimani is a writer based in Stockholm. Born in March 1976 in Tehran, she studied economics at the University of Tehran. Since 2015, she has been residing in Sweden and is a member of the Writers in Exile Association as well as the Swedish Writers’ Union.

Soleimani previously published the short story collection Lorca in Khiaban-e Fereshteh, from which the story Herta won one of Iran’s most prestigious literary awards. She has also published the novel Ulysses Syndrome in London.

Her novel Long Live Life, which revolves around the lives of four imprisoned women, became one of the best-selling Persian-language books outside Iran in 2021 and 2022. Another of her works, A Day with the Seven-Thousand-Year-Olds, takes its title from verses by Omar Khayyam.

Endorsements

Rana Soleimani is a gifted storyteller who effortlessly captivates her readers with a masterful blend of tension and suspense, pulling them deep into her narratives. In An Iranian Odyssey, she skillfully weaves together some of literature’s most enduring and resonant themes—womanhood, love, migration, politics, self-reflection, identity crisis, and the breaking of taboos—into a compelling and breathtaking tapestry that lingers in the reader’s mind.
— Reza Najafi, writer and literary critic

With An Iranian Odyssey, Rana Soleimani delivers a profound and gripping portrayal of a woman’s Odyssean journey through migration. Employing a modern narrative and a bold, unflinching lens, Soleimani breathes life into her story with a style that is as captivating as it is thought-provoking. Her vivid and nuanced storytelling examines vital themes—migration, the struggles of refugees in Sweden, cultural tensions between Iran and Sweden, the experiences of women in migration, love, betrayal, loneliness, and existential disorientation. This novel is not only compelling but also essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of the migrant experience.
— Khalil Nikpour, literary critic