Shazdeh Koochooloo, Iran’s Little Prince
Although The Little Prince (translated as shāzdé koochooloo) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is not a distinctly Persian novel, it has a very important place in the heart of Iranians. If you’re not familiar with the story (where have you been?!) The Little Prince is a beautiful story about a pilot who meets a little boy in the desert, and through a series of conversations, delves into the depths of the topics of life, love, death and everything in between.
Though there are at least 12 known translations of shāzdé koochooloo in the Persian language, one of the most memorable and widely spread is that of Ahmad Shamlou, a highly influential poet of the 20th century in Iran. Shamlou’s translation made even more of an impact due to his recording of the full novella with his deep and soothing voice.
Although it is a very deep and metaphorical story, the beauty of shāzdé koochooloo is that it manages to convey it’s message using very simple language. For this reason, it can be enjoyed children and adults alike, as well as those who are new to a language. Check out the link below to hear Ahmad Shamlou read his translation of the novel, and see how much of it you can understand!
