Title: Iranian Children’s Literature after the Islamic Revolution of 1979

Abstract: This article traces the history of Iranian children’s literature since the revolution of 1979, the importance of the institutions supporting it, as well as its reception globally, explaining its relative success. The institutions promoting children’s literature in the post-revolutionary period are noteworthy because of their long history and survival after the revolution. Although they adapted to the new Islamic context, they have been built on a solid tradition of children’s literature. These institutions are in large part an explanation for the global circulation and success of Iranian children’s literature worldwide. Their history has helped to make the field professional for several decades, something which is still in progress in adult fiction. Another important aspect to explain the healthy functioning of children’s literature is the quality of the illustrations, which play an important role in its circulation. One can thus see the entanglement of children’s literature with visual arts.

Keywords: Children’s literature, institutions, professionalization, literary circulation

Author: Laetitia Nanquette, Senior Lecturer, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.