"In life there are certain sores that, like a canker, gnaw at the soul in solitude and diminish it..."

These are the opening lines of the most celebrated novel in Iranian literature, the Blind Owl. Oneiric, Kafkaesque, surreal...you name it. It's stunningly beautiful in its lyricism and equally disturbing in its misogyny.

I found a great edition of the English and a mediocre one in Persian. I'm not familiar with the details of the textual history of the novel, but note that occasionally (for instance, at the very end!) there are whole paragraphs in Persian which are not present in English. If someone can find a more adequate or aesthetically pleasing version of the Persian, do so!

Even more importantly, I'm sure that many of us would appreciate tips for good sites with Persian literature, modern or classical.