Dear Readers:

In the midst of so many terrors in our world—affecting people in Palestine, in Ukraine, in Sudan, in many, many other shores that we aren’t naming, and aren’t forgetting—focusing on the arts feels both untimely and necessary. Living in peace shouldn’t be a luxury for certain people, certain locations, certain cultures.

Shirin Neshat once said, “Art is a weapon. Culture is a form of resistance.” All over the world, people in dire circumstances continue to create beauty, to share their human spirit as a way to countermand the darkness without, and within. With this in mind, we humbly offer our fourth issue, in two parts.

This first volume focuses on poetry, fiction and photography and art. The second, arriving later in the fall, will be an all-interview issue, celebrating the remarkable variety of books published by Persian authors over the last year, after which we will be taking a hiatus.

We are as always, deeply grateful to our talented contributors, whose work you will undoubtedly enjoy and return to, and I am personally indebted as ever to T. De Los Reyes, who adds beauty to our world in verse and vision.

Peace unto us all.

Yours,

Mandana / ماندانا

.زنان. زندگی. آزادی

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