San’ati Zadeh Kermani and other novelists of post-constitutionalism

San’ati Zadeh Kermani
The fourth author, A. H. San’ati Zadeh Kerman is one of the most prolific writers in this field and it demands more talk about him. In her first book, trappers or revengers of Mazdack (published in 1330 AH), San’ati Zadeh tries to uncover the causes of the fall of the Sassanid Empire and its Arab conquest. Young author's view, though not all-inclusive and all-encompassing, covers a relatively large part of historical facts. For example he discusses cruelty, cowardly cruelty and his lack of intolerance towards religious minorities and emphasizes that Yazdgerd III; and emphasizes that Yazdgerd lacked loyal followers, since most of them are under the influence of MAZDAK or retaliate the killing of their leader by the Sassanid king Khosrow and Anushiravan. Bertels, by interesting depiction provided concerning the trappers , says the corrupted authoritarian under two forces, one foreigner (the Arabs) containing the messaging and equality and other domestic (revolutionary society of Mazdakian), abolished and these destroyed “ Iranian national independency of Iran”. However, the narration of trappers of Sassanid fall is due to the conquest of Homayunian Arabs that often accepts. That is why, the reason of the Kings’ dictatorship and the support of fighters was by him and the followers of Mazdack who were against them practically took the side of the Arabs. More importantly, as Arnold Toynbee wrote, "Sassanid government showed that that it is unable to fulfill his or her reason of existence. Mazdakian leader's face that killed Yazdgerd, as well as the overall context of the book, apparently is written under the influence of The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas. The author insists to depict Zoroastrian priests in the ugliest way possible and relates the worst features of liberal Iranians reactionary Clergymen of earlier this century that as always fought against them.
Volume II of trappers in 1344 AH, five years after the publication of the first volume, was released in Tehran. According to Mujtaba minavi in the preface, San’ati Zadeh who was disappointed of the mistakes of the first volume of the book was encouraged by the Browne Review and began to publish the second volume (Although Brown’s criticism was not actually admiring). In any case, according to Nikitin, "in a letter of San’ai zahehto him," the author says in his book knows very well that the authors that Brawun does not have very friendly view, and Nikitin concludes that this shows that "today's authors of Iranian refers to comments of the orientalists.
Although the first historical novel in European-style of Shams and monogram Khosravi (published in 1327 AH), a number of orientalists considers Sham& Kermani pioneer in this regard. This conclusion arising from the claim that he kept the trappers (published in 1339 AH in Mumbai) when was fifteen years old. If we inevitably cast doubt on the authenticity of this matter, the rest contents of this biography contains beneficial knowledge.
The father of San’ati Zadeh, Haji Ali Akbar, to escape prosecution system in 1325 AH went from Kerman went to Istanbul. Sayyid. J. A. Suggested a friendship and missioned to return back to Iran and to covertly spread its revolutionary publications. In those days everyone who had constitutional tendency was scandalized as the prey of public hatred. As a result, the father was unable to continue its business and the family fell into extreme poverty. The boy inevitably sold matches in the street but, thanks to the Father’s efforts and hardworking the family status was developed; they opened an orphanage trained skills to the orphans and the son San’ati Zadeh was also busy making the bookstore. It was his school and was busy reading book night and day. At fifteen he wrote his first book and published at his own expense in Mumbai. He kept on to the bookstore for ten years in Kerman and his shop was the very room of intellectuals gathering. Then went to Tehran, established a textile factory and became a relatively prosperous businessman in the capital.
Concerning the first work of this author, the trappers, we talked earlier. In 1345, AH, he published another historical novel with story manes. This is the story of the painter Money, famous anti-traditionalists who from the beginning of a teenager who has left the family home and goes on long journey. His uncle who is a Zoroastrian priests advised him to go to China, where he can teach painting. Manny, in this journey falls in love with Zahida; he freed her from the hands of pirates and finds back hidden treasure in the mountains of Turkestan. He offers the treasure to the temple of the Lord. Shapur I, and the king converts to his religion and his religion allows him to make global institutions. At the process of the story battle to Chin as well as fighting Shapur Roman Emperor Valerian is also described. After a little deviation from the main theme as well as historical facts, everything ends satisfactory. Zahida with an imprisoned courage of Manny in gaining the lock key is saved of the lion place. Spandiar, like Shapur by Manny’s help gains treasure, and in the final scene of the story figure all gather in the Zoroastrians temple and the reward of Manny and Zahir’s attempt was their marriage.
The story of the painter Many, comparing with the first novel of Zadeh, in terms of richer accidents, contains a good plan and plot full of unexpected events and the exciting moments. The contradiction in Makeup of Two rival's conflict is also not devoid of surprises; Valerian is depicted as a brutal, drunken and corrupt ruler, while Shapur has wise and liberal tendencies. However, we have a second actor, feudal owner who has a very real face and rules on his samples in Iran until recently were plentiful.
The third historical novel of the writer, the Warrior, which was published in 1312, is about the power of the Sasanian dynasty and its founder Ardeshir; monarchy camping of Ardvan (209-226 AD), the last Parthian king, forms part of the historical background. The main theme of the book - apart from the inevitable love story – is rebellion of Ardashir and his battles with Urdu. The author, in general, the Iranian legends that come to us from generation to generation, has put together a story.
One of the other famous historical novels is the Black worn which was published in 1324. The theme is again the rise of Iranian hero against oppressive rulers. The author once again takes us to the second century and the firing of Abu Muslim Khorasani in support of the Abbasids, Iran’s friend in fight with the oppressed Umayyad. Abu Muslim raises his flag in his hometown Khorasan in the year 129 AH and after the decisive battle of the Great Zab where Umayyad caliph Marwan was killed, ended to the arbitrary rule of the Umayyad dynasty. Since then we witnessed the power of the Abbasid Caliph al-Mansur progressive Abu Muslim and the more and more fear of popular Iranian commander. Finally, in 137 AD, at thirty-five years, Abu Mansour is called to the court of ungrateful Mansour and treacherously murdered.
Unlike the previous three novels, which were celebrated as a Zoroastrianism national religion, the black worn of Islam the Persians and Abu Moslem have become known as the grand champion of Iran. Writing Style of this work is not the same as the previous books of San’ati Z. It also Take advantage of numerous historical references, but here does not make differentiation between fact and fiction. In fact, sometimes the accuracy of the historical events devoted to the relevance and continuity of the story as well as the author’s patriotic fervor.
Non historical works are including: How is it possible to become wealthy (1309), Rustam in the twentieth century (1314), Eternal Universe (1317), the Assembly of maniacs, in two volumes, (undated) and the angel of peace or F-Isfahani (1331). The last book is fiction about a hero girl who wants to make war impossible to win; the author sent this work for the Nobel Peace Prize committee also collected its form! ; his latest historical novel is Nader ,the conquer of Delhi published in 1336, but it is said the that S. Zadeh has other historical works as manuscript, including the mother in grief, about the fate of children of the third Yazdgerd ; a book on the biography of Shah Sultan Hussein and the dark end of Safavid dynasty, and other that its content contains the work of Mirza Mohammad Bab (the known founder of the Bábí) and it descendants of Mirza Y. Mirza H. A., and Abbas Effendi (founder of the Baha'i faith) along with many photos and details about Babis and Baha'is.
We cannot put San’ati. Z in the rank of the creative and important writers of new Iran; however skills and freshness in his early works put his name in the mouths. The Language of this writer is simple, clear and bare of redundancies and earlier prose writing symbols. Two striking features of his works are exemplary and patriotisms that usually puts him away from the historical facts. Another flaw in his work is the rigidity and the flexibility in speech of his story characters and finally the excessive use of European terms, especially in cases where there is a Persian terms, that exerts damage to his style.
Others
Writing historical novels in the past four decades has been one of the most productive areas of Persian literature. This is for two reasons: First, the states’ rich historical past gives the opportunity to the writer. Secondly, the ruling class that under any conditions does not like discussion on the common and popular contents so that may be his corruption and disqualification is being uncovered. Therefore, continually has encouraged the writers to give some appeasing medicine of the glorious past to the people. It was prevalent especially during the time of Reza Shah and was regarded as the popular theme of the measuring time according to them as “glorious past” with “present golden era”. As result, any inexperienced who desired to write focused on part of Iranian history as his goal , kept to it based on his own goal and sent it out as a historical novel.
Most of these books, which is full of misstatements and historical errors are not unlike the legendary tales and lack historical value whatsoever. With the exception of early works, that moved towards European realism, any of them did not find any particular literary importance. Compared with the writings of eminent time, we cannot consider them as an important work of art. But, as far as they are fun, the majority of the Iranian people liked these books, and still like them. Meanwhile, a number of them published as footnotes in the weekly release of Tehran. The history in the hand of these authors cited as a tool to mention exciting adventures, killing and massacring and enjoyments in order to keep their readers fun . Another important reason is the popularity of these works includes the mood of nostalgia, a plaster on the wounds of Iranian people. However, it is not true that we push all of these with a stick, because some are written with a better style. To keep fairness, because the scope of this review does not allow complete review of each one of them we are trying those which demands more attention is mentioned as acceptable ones.