Katie Panning Spieth Vice President for Advancement Secretary of the College | Lake Forest College
Katie Panning Spieth Vice President for Advancement Secretary of the College | Lake Forest College
Less than two weeks after its publication on March 18, 2025, Gorter Professor
of Islamic World Studies and Professor of Sociology Ahmad Sadri's translation
of the Shahnameh has garnered global attention.
The first positive review came from Shepherd Express, Milwaukee’s monthly
magazine covering arts, entertainment, culture, and dining. The review praised
the Shahnameh, acknowledging it as one of the most important works in
Persian literature.
In the same week, Sadri received an invitation to deliver the plenary speech
on the significance of Shahnameh in Persian literature at the Uncensored
Books Fair in Vienna, Austria. This annual event scheduled for May gathers
writers, translators, and scholars worldwide to discuss literature's impact
beyond linguistic, cultural, and political boundaries.
In their invitation to Sadri, event organizers wrote: “Your remarkable
translation of the Shahnameh, The Epic of the Persian Kings has brought one of
the greatest masterpieces of world literature to a broader international
audience and has highlighted its enduring philosophical and cultural
relevance. ”
Meanwhile, back on campus, the Donnelley and Lee Library will host a Faculty
Book Discussion with Sadri at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9 in Room 221. During
this event, Sadri will discuss his recently published translation of
Shahnameh: The Epic of Persian Kings. Additionally, Derick Perdana ’26 and
Carrington Valentine ’27 will dramatically recite excerpts from the epic. The
discussion is open to faculty, staff, students, and the public.
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