Description: First published pseudonymously and mailed out of Iran page by page, "King of the Benighted is a firsthand account of the hard realities of life under the Islamic Republic. It creatively combines modern techniques of fiction with the rich tradition of Persian poetry to tell a timeless tale. The novella invites the reader to join the flow of the artist's imagination and to share moments in the life a contemporary Iranian poet, including his imprisonment and incredible encounter with a young prisoner. "King of the Benighted epitomizes a new emerging spirit in contemporary Persian literature and shows that despite Iran's isolation today, its literature is very much part of the spirit sweeping the world. Included in this volume is an English prose rendition of the central metaphor of the novella, the 12th century poet Nezami's "The Black Dome." An insightful introduction by Nasrin Rahimich and a perceptive afterword by the translator reflect on the state of post revolutionary Persian literature.

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