From the Devil, Learned and Burned

by Farkhondeh Aghaie, Mehran Taghvaipour (Translator)

From the Devil, Learned and Burned is a work of fiction based on an incredible true story. Written in the form of a diary, the narrative tells us of the life of Volga between the years 1998 and 2001. Volga is a homeless Christian woman who lost her home many years ago when her fanatic of a Muslim husband threw her out onto the streets of Tehran. Volga believes in the independence of women and does not surrender to the prevailing idea in her society that a woman cannot live on her own and must be dependent on a man. As the tale unfolds, the reader is not only drawn into her story, but is also forced to confront the realities of a life lived in the cracks between different societies and cultures. In her struggles, Volga encounters and tackles a great number of issues which are controversial not just in the Iranian society, but in many other parts of the world: lack of a sound social welfare system to help the most vulnerable; independent financial stability for women; and discrimination on the basis of religion or gender. This powerful narrative illustrates not only the struggle of one strong and resourceful woman in Iran, but also the extent to which societal structures – in any country – can influence an individual’s life chances and alter their fate.

302 pages, Paperback

Published October 26, 2017