Photo: Larry D. Moore / CC BY 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Azar Nafisi is, to me, proof that books can be acts of defiance. Born in Tehran in 1948 and shaped by life under the Islamic Republic, she taught English literature and wrote Reading Lolita in Tehran, turning a secret reading circle of women into a quiet declaration of freedom. She emigrated to the United States in 1997 and became a citizen in 2008, yet never stopped speaking for the homeland she left. The Rome Prize fits her perfectly. I deeply admire anyone who insists that a single novel can light a fire in the mind. Nafisi reminds me that literature is not escape but resistance.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Azar Nafisi
- Name (Japanese)
- アーザル・ナフィースィー
- Reading
- あーざる・なふぃーすぃー
- Born
- December 20, 1948 (age 77)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Sagittarius / Rat
- Origin
- Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
- Occupation
- writer / professor / novelist / literary critic / academic staff
2. Background
- University
- University of Oklahoma
Awards & achievements
- Rome Prize
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Reading Lolita in Tehran | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Azar Nafisi born?
Born December 20, 1948 (age 77).
Where is Azar Nafisi from?
Azar Nafisi is from Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran.
What does Azar Nafisi do?
Azar Nafisi works as writer, professor, novelist, literary critic, academic staff.
What is Azar Nafisi known for?
Notable works include Reading Lolita in Tehran.
Writer — see all → · Professor — see all → · More people from Iran →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.