1st Edition
Judeo-Persian Writings A Manifestation of Intellectual and Literary Life
Introducing Judeo-Persian writings, this original collection gives parallel samples in Judeo-Persian and Perso-Arabic script and translations in English. Judeo-Persian writings not only reflect the twenty-seven centuries of Jewish life in Iran, but they are also a testament to their intellectual, cultural, and socioeconomic conditions.
Such writings, found in the forms of verse or prose, are flavored with Judaic, Iranian and Islamic elements. The significant value of Judeo-Persian writing is found in the areas of linguistics, history and sociocultural and literary issues. The rhetorical forms and literary genres of epic, didactic, lyric and satirical poetry can be a valuable addition to the rich Iranian literary tradition and poetical arts. Also, as a Judaic literary contribution, the work is a representation of the literary activity of Middle Eastern Jews not so well recognized in Judaic global literature.
This book is a comprehensive introduction to the rich literary tradition of works written in Judeo-Persian and also serves as a guide to transliterate many other significant Judeo-Persian works that have not yet been transliterated into Perso-Arabic script. The collection will be of value to students and researchers interested in history, sociology and Iranian and Jewish studies.
Part I Formation and History of Judeo-Persian
1. An Overview of Iranian Jewish Intellectual History
2. Thematic Contents of Judeo-Persian Literature: Literary Genres in Judeo-Persian Poetry
3. Thematic Contents of Judeo-Persian Prose
Conclusion
Part II Samples of Judeo-Persian Writings
1. Biblical Epic Poetry
2. Historical Poetry
3. Lyric Poetry
4. Vernacular Poetry
5. Mystic Poetry
6. Didactic Poetry
7. Panegyric Poetry
8. Satirical Poetry
9. Different Vocabularies and Ethnicities
10. Literary Terms
11. Epic Concepts and Legendary Heroes
12. Zoroastrian Concepts
13. Rhetorical Arts
14. Rhythmic Embellished Prose
Bibliography
Biography
Nahid Pirnazar teaches Judeo-Persian literature and the history of Iranian Jews at UCLA and is the founder of House of Judeo-Persian Manuscripts. Her recent publications include: Farsihood (2018), "Voluntary Conversions of Iranian Jews in the Nineteenth Century", Iran Namg (2019) and Ketab-Anusi (2020).
