The Works of Famous Iranian Writers Presented to Armenian Readers

On November 22, the Khnko Aper National Children’s Library hosted a book presentation featuring the literary works of renowned Iranian authors Abbas Jahangirian and Farhad Hasanzade. The books, The Monster's Shadow by Jahangirian and Music for Wednesday by Hasanzade, have been translated into Armenian.


The event was organized in collaboration with the Cultural Center of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) in Armenia. Among the attendees were the Director of the Khnko Aper National Children’s Library, Ruzan Tonoyan; the Ambassador of IRI to Armenia, Mehdi Sobhani; the Director of the Cultural Center of the IRI Embassy, Mohammad Asadi Movahed; author Abbas Jahangirian; the books’ translator, Gevorg Asatryan; the Rector of Brusov State University, Davit Gyurjinyan; the Director of Edit Print Publishing House, Mkrtich Karapetyan; Candidate of Philological Sciences, Garnik Gevorgyan; as well as pupils, literary critics, and other distinguished guests.

Director Ruzan Tonoyan welcomed the guests, emphasizing the importance of Armenian-Iranian literary and cultural ties and the need to continue fostering such collaborations. She remarked:
"The Iranian Reading Hall, which has been operating since 2006 in the Khnko Aper National Children’s Library, stands as a testament to the strong collaboration between our institutions. Over the years, we have implemented several joint programs with the IRI Embassy, and I am confident that today’s event will further enrich and energize Armenian-Iranian literary and cultural cooperation. Culture, literature, and especially children’s literature, are the finest means of mutual understanding. Iranian children’s literature is among the world’s leading, and the authors of the books presented today are multi-award-winning, talented writers whose works our readers enjoy immensely."

Ambassador Mehdi Sobhani highlighted the role of literature in fostering peace, noting that children’s authors play a vital role in shaping the future by contributing to the personal development of young readers.

Author Abbas Jahangirian expressed his joy at visiting Armenia for the third time, sharing that books have been the inspiration for each of his visits. He thanked the organizers for the event and praised translator Gevorg Asatryan, acknowledging the challenges of translating from Persian and commending the quality of the translations.

In turn, Gevorg Asatryan highlighted the unique styles of Abbas Jahangirian and Farhad Hasanzade. Despite their differences, both authors’ works have been translated into numerous languages and received several prestigious awards.

The event also featured a video presentation showcasing past collaborative programs between the library and the Cultural Center. Children who had read Iranian literature shared their impressions, adding a personal touch to the occasion.

Speakers at the event reflected on the successful Armenian-Iranian literary and cultural initiatives carried out over the years, celebrating the growing partnership and mutual appreciation of each other’s literary traditions.