Narguess Farzad

I am a senior lecturer in Persian Studies at SOAS, University of London, where I teach the Persian language from ab initio to advance levels. My other modules are classical Persian poetry, and literature in translation.
My academic interests are modern and classical Persian poetry, poetry of the Persian speaking world; grammar of Modern Persian language; poetry translation and the role of poetry in the Persianate world and beyond.
I have written on the role of translation, poetry of the Persian-speaking world, Persian poetry of Sacred Defence and the life and works of Mowlana Jalal ad-Din Balkhi, 'Rumi'.
I contribute regularly to cultural programmes on BBC Radios 3, Radio 4, and the BBC World Service and have brought Persian poetry to audiences in London’s museums, literature and book festivals, concert halls, Windsor Castle, and to the Venice Biennale.
My publications include the Grammar of Modern Persian (Hodder), ‘Qeysar Aminpur and the Persian Poetry of Sacred Defence’ (British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies), and Poems of Farzaneh Khojandi with Jo Shapcott (Enitharmon).
I have written on the enduring appeal, and the challenges of translating Persian poetry as well as several introductions for a series of books on Rumi’s poetry published by Hampton Roads Publishing, USA and Red Wheel Weiser.
I am one of the founding members of Pesianlanguageonline.com, which is an internet resource for learning Persian as well as providing a platform to explore the literary and linguistic cultures of the Persianate worlds.
I am the current Director of this project: https://persianlanguageonline.com/