Farzaneh Milani: A Literary Journey with Forough Farrokhzad

The 8th episode of Parse is an excerpt from a talk given by Farzaneh Milani in which she describes the profound influence the works of the Persian poet and filmmaker, Forough Farrokhzad, has had on her intellectual and career development. Milani recounts the challenges she has faced as a scholar of Farrokhzad’s life and works, and what can be done to bring Iranian female poets to the forefront of studies in Persian literature and poetry.

Farzaneh Milani is the Raymond J. Nelson Professor of Iranian literature and Gender Studies at the University of Virginia. Milani has published several books and articles in Persian and English. She has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Ms. Magazine, USA Today, and many more. She has received numerous awards for her prolific contribution to the field of Middle Eastern and Gender studies. In 2021, the Nobel Committee of the Swedish Academy invited Milani to join as a member of its Board of External Experts for Literature, a role which she will serve for three years.