This book introduces the canonical figure Sadegh Hedayat (1903-1951) and
draws a comprehensive image of a major intellectual force in the context
of both modern Persian Literature and World Literature. A prolific
writer known for his magnum opus, The Blind Owl (1936), Hedayat
established the use of common language for literary purposes, opened new
horizons on imaginative literature and explored a variety of genres in
his creative career. This book looks beyond the reductive critical
tendencies that read a rich and diverse literary profile in light of
Hedayat's suicide, arguing instead that his literary imagination was not
solely the result of genius but rather enriched by a vast network of the
world's literary traditions. This study reflects on Hedayat's attempts
at various genres of artistic creation, including painting, fiction
writing, satire and scholarly research, as well as his persistent
struggles for artistic authenticity, which transcended solidly
established literary and artistic norms. Providing a critical reading of
Hedayat's work to untangle aspects of his writing - including
reflections on science, religion, nationalism and coloniality -
alongside his pioneering work on folk culture, and how humor informs his
writings, this text offers a critical review of the status of Persian
literature in the contemporary landscape of the world's literary
studies.