Lotfollah Taraghi (Persian: لطفالله ترقی), born 1903 [1282 SH] in Qom, Iran, died 1973 [1352 SH] in Tehran, Iran,[1] was an Iranian scholar (adib), journalist, publisher, lawyer, and legislative drafting officer.[2][3] He is best known for his historical romance short story collection Naseroddin Shah's Love-Affairs which inspired the television series Jeyran. He is the father of the Iranian author Goli Taraghi.
Career as journalist
Lotfollah Taraghi was a well known landowner and in the 1940s he owned most of the Mahmoodieh area in Tehran.[4] He was patriotic in political orientation and has been described as one of the five most famous Iranian journalists in the 1941–57 period.[5] In 1929 he launched a social and literary journal, Taraghi ("Progress") and continued as its director and chief editor until its closure in 1965.[6][7] He also founded and was the editor of the literary journal Āsiā-ye javān (Young Asia) for some time.[8]
Historical fiction writings
Lotfollah Taraghi had a deep interest in historical novels and stories.[9] He is primarily known for his popular short story collection Naseroddin Shah's Love-Affairs ('Eshqbāzihā-ye Nāseroddin Shāh), which depicts the life in the harem of the Qajar king Naseroddin Shah. The stories are focused on Jeyran, the king's first mistress and subsequently favourite wife.[10]
Taraghis book Naseroddin Shah's Love-Affairs ('Eshqbāzihā-ye Nāseroddin Shāh) provided inspiration for the Iranian historical romance television series Jeyran (جیران, 2022), written and directed by Hassan Fathi.[11]
Selected work
- The Djinn in the Hamam of Sangalaj (Jenn dar hammām-e Sangalaj) (1928)[12]
- The Indian Lady (Bānu-ye hendi) (1930)[13]
- Baghdad Nights: Harun al-Rashid's Love for the Daughter of the Iranian General Azarin (Shab-hā-ye Baghdād: Deldādegi-ye Hārun be doxtar-e Āzarin sardār-e irāni) (2 vols.) (1952)[14]
- Naseroddin Shah's Love-Affairs ('Eshqbāzihā-ye Nāseroddin Shāh) (1960). Re-published several times as Jeyran and the Secrets of Naseroddin Shah's Harem (Jeyrān va asrār-e haramsarā-ye Nāseroddin Shāh)[15]