APPENDIX
Characters and Persons Mentioned*
Characters (in alphabetical order)
Abedi: Brigadier General’s new orderly.
A‘lam al-Dowleh: An acquaintance of Professor Mani and a Qajar descendant.
Abd al-Reza: A member of the Farrokhi household.
Ajami: Male servant at Tehran University’s Faculty of Fine Arts.
Akhtar Iran: One of Grandmother’s cousins.
Amir Shahin: Son of Akhtar Iran and Karim Aqa.
Aqa Sheikh Sa‘id: Dissident religious leader.
Arzani: One of Simin’s neighbors.
Asadollah Khan: Brigadier General’s orderly.
Baktash, Aqa Bak: Fellow activist of Farhad Dorafshan.
Bijan: Ahmad Ganjur’s son, recently returned from prolonged studies in the United States.
Brigadier General: Neighbor and friend of Grandmother.
Cheragh Maznian: Colleague of Farhad Dorafshan.
Dr. Bahari: Medical doctor and friend of the Ganjur family.
Dr. Ovanesian: Grandmother’s Armenian-Iranian medical doctor.
Dr. Sa‘edi: Medical doctor visited by Eshrat Ganjur.
Dr. Zandi: Member of the Council on Artistic Creation.
Emad: Adult son of Brigadier General.
Fakhri: Hasti’s secretary.
Farhad: Highly sought-after male hairdresser and beautician.
Farhad Dorafshan, Hadi: A friend of Salim.
Farideh: Mohsen’s neighbor’s daughter.
Faridi: A Tudeh Party member and former student of Simin.
Farkhondeh Dorafshan: Former classmate of Hasti and sister of Farhad and Firuz Dorafshan.
Farrokh A‘zam: A female friend of Mrs. Farrokhi.
Farzaneh: Fellow activist of Morad.
Fatemeh Sabzevari: Shantytown resident.
Fazlollah: Fatemeh Sabzevari’s teenaged son.
Firuz Dorafshan: Brother of Farhad Dorafshan.
Firuzeh: Acquaintance of Mother Eshi and customer of Farhad, the beautician.
Ganjur, Ahmad Ganjur: Hasti’s stepfather, garage owner, and employee of American advisers at the Ministry of Education.
Gholami Ali: Possible writer of Queen Farah’s speech.
Grandmother, Touran Nourian, Madam: Hasti’s paternal grandmother, who raised Hasti and her brother; retired teacher.
Hayedeh: Potential wife for Bijan.
Haj Aqa Givechi: Friend of Salim’s father.
Haji Ma‘sumeh, Haji Ma‘sum: Simin’s hermaphrodite servant.
Hasti Nourian: Twenty-six-year-old, single, college-educated woman employed by the Ministry of Art and Culture.
Helen Hitti: Young adult daughter of Mr. Hitti.
Hossein Ali: Shantytown resident.
Hossein Nourian: Hasti and Shahin’s long-deceased father.
Ja‘far Aqa: Mechanic in Ahmad Ganjur’s garage.
Jalal Al-e Ahmad* (1923–1969): Novelist, short-story writer, translator, ethnographer, social critic, and political activist whose best-known work is Gharbzadegi (Weststruckness); Simin Daneshvar’s husband, recently deceased at the time of this story.
Jamshid Khan: One of Simin’s neighbors.
Jeffery, Ja‘far: Haji Ma‘sumeh’s brother.
Karim Aqa: Akhtar Iran’s husband.
Keshvar: Dealer in jewelry and friend of the Ganjur family.
La‘l Beigom, La‘l Banu: Pakistani wife of Sir Edward.
Leila*: Leila Riyahi, Simin’s niece and adopted daughter.
Leopard Abbas: Shantytown resident.
Lieutenant General Tondar: Nephew of Brigadier General.
Majid: Possible writer of Queen Farah’s speech.
Marami: A Tehran University employee.
Mardan Khan, Murray, Mr. Tavassoli: Friend and colleague of Ahmad Ganjur.
Marshal Naneh: Servant of one of Simin’s neighbors.
Maryam: Teimur Khan’s wife, mother of Mohsen, and Grandmother’s former student.
Marzieh: Alias of Farkhondeh Dorafshan.
Mehrmah: One of Grandmother’s cousins, now deceased.
Mina: Mrs. Farrokhi’s daughter-in-law.
Mo‘addel al-Saltaneh: Hayedeh’s father; member of the former aristocracy.
Mohammad Aqa: A neighborhood grocer.
Mohsen, Mohsen Run, Run: Teimur Khan’s son; fruit and vegetable peddler.
Morad, Morad Pakdel: Hasti’s former classmate and close male friend, with whom Hasti is in love.
Morteza: Fellow activist of Farhad Dorafshan.
Mother Eshi, Eshrat: Hasti’s mother.
Mr. Crossley: American archeologist and friend of Mr. Hitti.
Mr. Hitti: American serving as a teaching expert at Iran’s Ministry of Education.
Mrs. Farrokhi: Wealthy friend of Mother Eshi and mother of Salim.
Mrs. Hakimi: Seller of homemade sweets.
Mrs. Hitti: American wife of Mr. Hitti.
Mrs. Mani: Professor Mani’s wife, originally from Czechoslovakia.
Naneh Agha: Servant in the Ganjur household.
Naneh Fatemeh: Simin’s new servant.
Nanny: Female servant in the Farrokhi household.
Navidi: Driver in the Ganjur household.
Ne‘mat: Fellow activist of Farhad Dorafshan.
Niku: Qodsi’s husband’s niece and potential wife for Salim.
Parviz: Elementary school–age son of Ahmad Ganjur and Mother Eshi.
Pasita: Filipina maid in the Ganjur household.
Peggy: Mardan Khan’s American wife.
Professor Isa: Member of the Council on Artistic Creation.
Professor Mani: One of Hasti’s former professors, now retired.
Puria: Fellow activist of Farhad Dorafshan.
Qodsi: Salim’s sister.
Qoli: Afghan cook in the Ganjur household.
Raya: Masseuse at Mother Eshi’s spa.
Sahand: Turkish-speaking shantytown resident.
Salim, Salim Farrokhi: Young man recently returned from studies in England, a suitor of Hasti.
Shahin: Hasti’s college-aged brother.
Simin, Simin Daneshvar* (1921–2012): The author appearing as herself in the novel; university professor, writer, and, in this story, mentor and friend of Hasti.
Sir Edward: British expat working in an Iranian government office.
Sohrab: Member of the Council on Artistic Creation.
Taji: Female servant in the Farrokhi household.
Taqi Khan: Male servant in the Ganjur household.
Teimur Khan: Neighbor and tenant of Grandmother, cycle repairman, musician.
Vikki Shokouhi: Neighbor of Baktash, Farzaneh, and Morteza; retired school principal.
Za‘far: King of the genies, character in a play.
Zebarjad: Villager, character in a play.
Other Persons Mentioned (in alphabetical order)
Abolfazl, Ali Abbas*: ‘Abbas ibn ‘Ali (647–80): Half-brother of Imam Hossein, known as a great warrior and revered by Shi‘a Muslims for his loyalty to Imam Hossein.
Abu Hanifa* (699–767): Muslim theologian of Persian ethnicity who established the Hanafi school of Sunni jurisprudence, which is still widely followed in India, Pakistan, Central Asia, Turkey, and Arab countries.
Ahmad Shah* (1898–1930): Ruler of Iran from 1909 to 1925, when he was deposed; last ruling member of the Qajar dynasty.
Ali Akbar*: ‘Ali al-Akbar ibn al-Hossein (662–80): Son of Imam Hossein, killed at the age of eighteen at the Battle of Karbala.
Ali Asghar*: Abdullah ‘Ali al-Asghar ibn al-Hossein: Infant son of Imam Hossein, killed at the Battle of Karbala in AD 680.
Amir Arsalan: Title character of a popular folk tale that has been told on the stage and screen, as well as in print and orally.
Anushirvan*: Khosrow I (ca. 512–79): Sasanian King of Kings, AD 531–579, featured prominently in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh (The Book of Kings).
Ardeshir Zahedi* (1928–): Foreign minister of Iran (1966–71) and ambassador to the United States from 1960 to 1962 and again from 1973 to 1979; married for a time to Shahnaz Pahlavi.
Aref*: ‘Aref ‘Arefkia (1941–): Singer of popular music who introduced Western melodies and romantic lyrics to Iranian music, a pop idol of the 1960s and 1970s.
Attar*: Farid al-Din ‘Attar (ca. 1145–1221): Mystic poet whose best-known work is the long, allegorical poem The Conference of the Birds.
Ayub Khan*: Mohammad Ayub Khan (1907–74): President of Pakistan from 1958 to 1969.
Azod al-Dowleh Daylami* (936–83): Emir at the height of the Buyid dynasty, ruling over most of what is now Iran and Iraq.
Babak Khorramdin* (ca. 795–838): Azeri-Iranian revolutionary leader who fought the Abbasid Caliphate for local control.
Bhagavan: One of the names of Buddha, meaning “the blessed one”; commonly used as a title.
Bijan Mofid* (1935–84): Playwright, songwriter, and stage director whose best-known work is the musical play Shahr-e Qesseh (Story Town).
Bozorgmehr*: Sixth-century minister and military commander under Anushirvan and other Sasanian kings, featured prominently in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh (The Book of Kings).
Chief Nassiri*: Ne‘matollah Nassiri (1911–79): Head of SAVAK, Iran’s secret police, from 1965 to 1978.
Darvish Maftoun: Sufi musician.
Dawud Tai*: Abu Sulaiman Dawud ibn Nusair al-Tai (d. ca. 777): Islamic scholar and Sufi mystic, student of Abu Hanifa.
Denis Papin* (1647–1713): French physicist, mathematician, and inventor.
Dowlatshah*: Mohammad ‘Ali Mirza Dowlatshah (1789–1821): Qajar prince, patron of the arts, and poet.
Dr. Farahvashi*: Bahram Farahvashi (1925–92): Iranian linguist and scholar of the ancient languages and cultures of Iran.
Dr. Shariati, Ali Shariati* (1933–77): French-educated sociologist of religion and Islamist philosopher, prolific writer, and popular speaker who promoted a return to true, revolutionary Shi‘ism.
Entezami*: ‘Ezzatolah Entezami (1924–2018): Award-winning stage and screen actor.
Fath Ali Shah* (1772–1834): Second shah of the Qajar dynasty who ruled from 1797 to 1834.
Ferdowsi*: Abul-Qasem Ferdowsi Tusi (ca. 935–1019): Revered poet and author of Shahnameh (The Book of Kings), the national epic of Greater Iran (with over fifty thousand verses, the longest versified prose work ever written).
Foruzanfar*: Badi‘ozzaman Foruzanfar (1904–70): Persian literary scholar and critic, distinguished professor of literature at Tehran University.
Hafez*: Shams al-Din Mohammad Hafez (ca. 1325–90): Lyric poet of Shiraz, Iran, whose works continue to be read, recited, and much loved throughout the Persian-speaking world and beyond.
Hamid Khan, Hamid Enayat* (1932–82): Political scientist, translator, and professor at Tehran University; in this story, Shahin’s favorite professor.
Her Holiness Fatemeh*: Fatimah bint Mohammad (ca. 605–32): Daughter of the Prophet Mohammad, wife of Imam ‘Ali, and mother of Imam Hassan, Imam Hossein, and Her Holiness Zeinab; known for her piety.
Her Holiness Zeinab*: Zeinab bint ‘Ali (626–82): Sister of Imam Hossein who protected the ailing Zayn al-Abedin at the Battle of Karbala and afterward.
Hujwiri*: Shaykh ‘Ali al-Hujwiri (ca. 1009–72): Mystic, theologian, and preacher credited with contributing to the spread of Islam in South Asia; author of Revelation of the Veiled.
Imam Ali*: ‘Ali ibn Abi Taleb (ca. 600–661): Cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammad, fourth caliph (656–61), considered by Shi‘a Muslims to be the rightful successor to Mohammad and the first imam.
Imam Hossein*: Hossein ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Taleb (626–80): Also known as Aba Abdollah al-Hossein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammad and son of Imam Ali; martyred at the Battle of Karbala; third Shi‘a imam.
Imam Musa Kazem*: Musa ibn Ja‘far al-Kazem (745–99): Seventh Shi‘a imam.
Imam Reza*: ‘Ali ibn Musa al-Reza (766–818): Descendant of the Prophet Mohammad, eighth imam recognized by Shi‘a Muslims; buried in Mashhad, Iran.
Iraj Mirza* (1874–1926): Major poet and satirist of the late Qajar period.
Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari* (ca. 607–97): Prominent companion of the Prophet Mohammad.
Josaq: Reputed to be the executioner of Babak Khorramdin.
Kasravi*: Ahmad Kasravi (1890–1947): Prominent Iranian intellectual, historian, and nationalist, known for his anticlerical views.
Khalil Maleki* (1901–69): Leading Iranian intellectual, Marxist theoretician, socialist, and political activist affiliated with the National Front, which supported Mosaddeq.
Khayyam*: ‘Omar Khayyam (1048–1131): Mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, and poet from Nishapur, Iran, made famous in the West by Edward FitzGerald’s 1859 translation of a selection of his quatrains, The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.
Le Corbusier*: Charles-Edouard Jeanneret (1887–1965): Swiss-French architect, a pioneer of modern architecture.
Maharishi Yogi* (1918–2008): Indian guru who developed transcendental meditation.
Marrat Qeis: Character in stories surrounding Imam ‘Ali.
Mehdi Akhavan-Sales* (1929–90): Poet and a pioneer of free verse or new poetry in Iran.
Modabber*: Mohammad Modabber (1890–1966): Painter who produced canvases illustrating religious stories and traditions meant to be used to accompany narrations.
Mohtasham Kashani* (1500–1588): Poet best known for his Shi‘a religious poetry, especially poems about Imam Hossein’s martyrdom.
Monajjemi: Engineer and friend of Jalal Al-e Ahmad.
Mosaddeq*, Mohammad Mosaddeq (1882–1967): Prime minister of Iran from 1951 to 1953 who supported the nationalize Iranian oil, was in conflict with Mohammad Reza Shah, and was ousted in a 1953 coup d’etat instigated by the British MI6 and joined by the American CIA.
Moshfeq Kazemi*: Seyyed Morteza Moshfeq Kazemi (1904–78): Poet, playwright, and novelist; author of Tehran makhuf (Horrible Tehran) (1922), considered Iran’s first social novel.
Mr. Shoghal: A poet.
Naser al-Din Shah* (1831–96): Ruler of Iran from 1848 to 1896, when he was assassinated.
Nima*: Nima Yushij (1897–1960): Considered the father of modern Iranian poetry.
Obeyd Zakani* (ca. 1319–70): Poet and satirist whose most famous work is Mouse and Cat, a political satire; known for his bawdy writings.
Omid*: M. Omid, pen name of Mehdi Akhavan-Sales.
Parvin E‘tesami* (1907–41): Well-known female poet who composed in the classic style.
Pourdavoud*: Ebrahim Pourdavoud (1886–1958): Scholar of ancient languages and history and translator of the Avesta into modern Persian.
Qamar Vazir: Character in the tale of Amir Arsalan.
Qollar Aqasi*: Hossein Qollar Aqasi (1902–66): Painter who specialized in vivid and colorful canvas murals illustrating religious traditions and stories from Shahnameh.
Queen Fanar: Mispronunciation of Queen Farah.
Queen Farah*: Farah Pahlavi (1938–): Third wife and now widow of Mohammad Reza Shah; mother of the crown prince and three other children; supporter of charitable causes and the arts.
Raj Kapoor* (1924–88): Indian film actor, producer, and director.
Rostam, Rostam Farrokhzad*: Seventh-century military leader and key figure in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh (The Book of Kings).
Rumi*: Jalal al-Din Mohammad Rumi (1207–73): Sufi mystic and poet, originally from Balkh (now part of Afghanistan), settled in Konya (now part of Turkey), whose works continue to be read worldwide; now counted as the best-selling poet in the United States, due largely to the work of poet Coleman Barks.
Sa‘di*: Sa‘di Shirazi (1213–91): World-renowned poet and prose writer of Shiraz, Iran, whose best-known works are Bustan (The Orchard) and Golestan (The Rose Garden).
Sa‘edi*: Gholam-Hossein Sa‘edi (1936–85): Playwright, novelist, and short-story writer.
Sabiheh*: Khalil Maleki’s wife.
Safi Ali Shah* (1835–99): Founder of the Ne‘matollahi Safi ‘Alishah Sufi Order.
Sakkaki*: Yusuf ibn ‘Abi Bakr Sakkaki (1160–1229): Muslim scholar known for his work on language and rhetoric.
Sathya Sai Baba* (1926–2011): Indian guru with millions of followers and hundreds of Sathya Sai Centers throughout the world.
Sediqeh Dowlatabadi* (1882–1961): Early Iranian feminist, promoter of modern education for women, publisher, and supporter of Reza Shah’s reforms on behalf of women; in the late 1930s, director of the Women’s Center, a Pahlavi-endorsed organization.
Sha‘ban Ja‘fari* (1921–2006): Practitioner of Iranian traditional wrestling, supporter of Mohammad Reza Shah; considered instrumental in the overthrow of Mosaddeq.
Shahab al-Din Sohravardi* (1154–91): Philosopher and founder of the Illuminationist school of philosophy; executed for heresy.
Shahnaz Pahlavi* (1940–): Daughter of Mohammad Reza Shah and his first wife, Princess Fawzia Fuad of Egypt.
Shahriar*: Mohammad-Hossein Shahriar (1906–88): Azeri-Iranian poet who wrote in both Azeri and Persian.
Shams*: Shams Pahlavi (1917–96): Eldest sister of Mohammad Reza Shah.
Shamshiri*: Mohammad Hassan Shamshiri (1897–1961): Known as Haj Hassan Shamshiri; bazaar merchant, restaurateur, philanthropist, and political activist who provided financial support for Mosaddeq’s cause.
Shams Vazir: Character in the tale of Amir Arsalan.
Sheikh San‘an: Character in a folk story first made famous by the twelfth-century poet Attar.
Sohrab Sepehri* (1928–80): Prominent modernist poet and painter.
Takhti*: Gholamreza Takhti (1930–68): Popular wrestler who won three Olympic medals (1952, 1956, 1960); known and loved as well for his chivalrous behavior.
Taqizadeh*: Seyyed Hassan Taqizadeh (1878–1970): Iranian statesman, constitutionalist, and scholar.
Vali*: Ja‘far Vali (1933–2016): Theater director, playwright, and actor.
Zayn al-Abedin*: ‘Ali ibn Hossein Zayn al-‘Abedin (659–713): Known as Imam Sajjad, son of Imam Hossein; fourth Shi‘a imam.
Zoroaster*: Zarathustra (ca. 628–551 BCE): Iranian prophet regarded as the founder of Zoroastrianism, the pre-Islamic religion of Iran that influenced the development of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and that is still practiced in a few communities in Iran, India, and elsewhere.
* Real person