Rising Starmer: An interview with Britain’s opposition leader

In this memoir, Azar Nafisi recounts her life in Iran after the 1979 revolution, focusing on her secret book club where she and seven female students discussed forbidden Western classics such as works by Vladimir Nabokov, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Henry James, and Jane Austen. The book interweaves Nafisi's personal experiences, including her expulsion from the University of Tehran for refusing to wear the veil, her teaching career, and the impact of the Iran-Iraq War on Iranian society. It explores themes of personal freedom, social obligations, tyranny, and the transformative power of literature in the face of oppression.

This collection, 'Sin: Selected Poems of Forugh Farrokhzad', offers a glimpse into the life and work of a pioneering Iranian poet. Farrokhzad's poetry is marked by its sensuality and political consciousness, challenging the societal norms of her time. The book includes poems from various stages of her career, highlighting her evolution as a poet. Translated by Sholeh Wolpé, it brings Farrokhzad's powerful voice to English-speaking readers.

Goli Taraghi's "The Pomegranate Lady and Her Sons" is a collection of short stories offering a blend of political commentary and daily life in Iran. The stories explore the paradoxes of life in exile, portraying characters who yearn for their homeland while appreciating their newfound safety. Themes of coping with and defying restrictions are central, showcasing the resilience of Iranian women. The collection features diverse characters, from young children in a dance troupe to those involved in anti-government protests. Taraghi's work provides a nuanced perspective on Iranian women's experiences.

In 'White Torture', Narges Mohammadi documents the experiences of fourteen women who have faced imprisonment and torture in Iranian prisons. The book exposes the brutal conditions and psychological effects of solitary confinement, while also showcasing the resilience and resistance of these women. It serves as a powerful indictment of the Iranian regime's human rights abuses.