April 07, 2025
Linda Blaser
Sadri’s ‘Shahnameh’ translation earns praise and global invitation
Less than two weeks after his new Shahnameh was published on March 18, 2025, Gorter Professor of Islamic World Studies and Professor of Sociology Ahmad Sadri was making news globally.
He received his first positive review from the Shepherd Express—Milwaukee’s monthly magazine covering arts, entertainment, culture, and dining—praising Shahnameh, one of the most important works in Persian literature.
That same week, Sadri was invited to deliver the plenary speech on the significance of Shahnameh in Persian literature at the Uncensored Books Fair in Vienna, Austria, in May.
This annual fair brings together writers, translators, and scholars from around the world to explore the power of literature 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.
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. At the event, Sadri will discuss his recently published translation of Shahnameh: The Epic of Persian Kings, while Derick Perdana ’26 and Carrington Valentine ’27 will dramatically recite excerpts from the epic. This event is open to faculty, staff, students, and the public.