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“A complex and beautiful rendering of [a] vanished country and its scattered people, a reminder of the power and purpose of art, and an ode to female creativity under a patriarchy that repeatedly tries to snuff it out.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)
All through her childhood in Tehran, Forugh Farrokhzad is told that Persian daughters should be quiet and modest. She is taught only to obey, but she always finds ways to rebel—gossiping with her sister among the fragrant roses of her mother’s walled garden, venturing to the forbidden rooftop to roughhouse with her three brothers, writing poems to impress her strict, disapproving father, and sneaking out to flirt with a teenage paramour over café glacé. During the summer of 1950, Forugh’s passion for poetry takes flight—and tradition seeks to clip her wings.
Forced into a suffocating marriage, Forugh runs away and falls into an affair that fuels her desire to write and to achieve freedom and independence. Forugh’s poems are considered both scandalous and brilliant; she is heralded by some as a national treasure, vilified by others as a demon influenced by the West. She perseveres, finding love with a notorious filmmaker and living by her own rules—at enormous cost. But the power of her writing only grows stronger amid the upheaval of the Iranian revolution.
Inspired by Forugh Farrokhzad’s verse, letters, films, and interviews—and including original translations of her poems—this haunting novel uses the lens of fiction to capture the tenacity, spirit, and conflicting desires of a brave woman who represents the birth of feminism in Iran—and who continues to inspire generations of women around the world.
Praise for Song of a Captive Bird
“If poetry is emotion rendered incendiary, then Forugh Farrokhzad was made of fire. . . . Song of a Captive Bird is an unsparing account of the necessity and consequences of speaking out.”—BookPage
“Sometimes, simply choosing whom to love is a political act.”—Vogue
“Forugh Farrokhzad’s short life brimmed with controversy and rebellion . . . .This feminist icon inspired Darznik’s imaginative debut.”—Ms.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
February 13, 2018 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780525527336
- File size: 312990 KB
- Duration: 10:52:03
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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November 27, 2017
In this sumptuous debut novel, Darznik (The Good Daughter, a memoir) retells the fleeting life of a real-life Iranian feminist, poet, and director. In this imagining—told with the vulnerability and confidence of a memoir—Forugh Farrokhzad grows up in a Tehran where women and girls see little of the world beyond their own garden walls, but the glimpses are formative. Poetry is the thread that weaves through Forugh’s journey: the familial and romantic relationships that uplift and crush her; the darkest hours of isolation where she is made to forget her own work; the possibilities and promise, always just out of her reach. Excerpts of her verses, translated by Darznik, light the path from Forugh’s tragic first love to the birth of her son, a passionate affair, her first publication, and her determination to remain independent in a world so focused on control. Forugh’s crucibles are not so dissimilar from those of her country, balancing a rich history and faith with a desire to secure a place in modern spheres of influence. As Forugh finds her stride, so does Darznik’s telling; the direct but descriptive voice soars as its subject makes a life for herself. Darznik’s marvelous homage to Forugh captures the frustration and determination she must have felt to overcome the strictures of her environment, beautifully recreating her difficult path to fame. -
Iranian poet Forugh Farrokhzad (1935-1967) is the real-life inspiration for this coming-of-age story. Mozhan Marno narrates the harrowing details of Forugh's strict childhood and forced, loveless marriage at a steady pace that softens the blows. Marno's sultry, throaty voice and narrative style bring across the persistence at the heart of this historic character. A lush sensuality infuses the entire listening experience, which has us cheering for Forugh when she finds love, however illicit. And we hang on every word as translations of the poet's work weave their way into the story. Fans of literary fiction will find much to admire in this excellent production. M.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine -
May 15, 2018
With her eloquent contralto, Mozhan Marnò exquisitely embodies the Persian poet and filmmaker Forugh Farrokhzad--her experiences as a young bride, maturation as a writer, hesitant then strident steps toward independence, and refusal to be silenced through the violent horrors of the autocratic Shah's reign. As the only daughter in a traditional family, the strict expectations of Forugh's gender nearly stifle her spirit. She escapes her stagnating marriage, even if it means losing her adored young son. She seeks freedom and inspiration in love affairs, survives personal betrayals and public vilification, and finds contentment and companionship with a wealthy friend. Denigrated and celebrated both, Forugh becomes a hopeful beacon for Persian women during the widespread tumult of 1950s and 1960s Iran. Tehran-born, U.S.-raised Darznik's (The Good Daughter) debut novel relies on "Forugh's own poetry, letters, films, and interviews as source material." VERDICT The result is spectacular testimony--further heightened by Marnò's vividly resonant narration--to a creative force whose searing voice has survived censorship, bans, and too-early death. ["Readers can't seem to get enough of fictional biography, and this first novel from...Darznik is a poignant, mesmerizing addition to the genre": LJ 12/17 starred review of the Ballantine hc.]--Terry Hong, Smithsonian BookDragon, Washington, DC
Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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May 15, 2018
With her eloquent contralto, Mozhan Marn� exquisitely embodies the Persian poet and filmmaker Forugh Farrokhzad--her experiences as a young bride, maturation as a writer, hesitant then strident steps toward independence, and refusal to be silenced through the violent horrors of the autocratic Shah's reign. As the only daughter in a traditional family, the strict expectations of Forugh's gender nearly stifle her spirit. She escapes her stagnating marriage, even if it means losing her adored young son. She seeks freedom and inspiration in love affairs, survives personal betrayals and public vilification, and finds contentment and companionship with a wealthy friend. Denigrated and celebrated both, Forugh becomes a hopeful beacon for Persian women during the widespread tumult of 1950s and 1960s Iran. Tehran-born, U.S.-raised Darznik's (The Good Daughter) debut novel relies on "Forugh's own poetry, letters, films, and interviews as source material." VERDICT The result is spectacular testimony--further heightened by Marn�'s vividly resonant narration--to a creative force whose searing voice has survived censorship, bans, and too-early death. ["Readers can't seem to get enough of fictional biography, and this first novel from...Darznik is a poignant, mesmerizing addition to the genre": LJ 12/17 starred review of the Ballantine hc.]--Terry Hong, Smithsonian BookDragon, Washington, DC
Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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