A Conversation

The book ‘A Conversation’ is a record of an interview by ‘Nasser Hariri’ with one of the most prominent and talented Iranian translators, ‘Najaf Daryabandari’, published by Karnameh. In this work, Nasser Hariri discusses various issues surrounding the translation industry, editing, and book publishing with Najaf Daryabandari. The interview begins with a definition of translation, and later delves into the debate over whether translation is an art or a craft. Lessons on translation are highlighted by Najaf Daryabandari, including topics such as returning to the story, critique of translation, repeated translations, translating ancient texts, translation associations, editing, working in the field of poetry, the sense of proportion, form and meaning, novels versus romance, and poetry versus prose. Nasser Hariri and Najaf Daryabandari explore these major topics throughout the book. Additionally, the book features discussions on various individuals such as ‘Nima Youshij’, ‘Zabihollah Mansouri’, ‘Sadegh Hedayat’, and ‘Morteza Keyvan’, and addresses their artistic activities. The manner of Nasser Hariri’s questions ensures that the responses provided by Najaf Daryabandari are enriching and comprehensible for the readers, often straightforward and indicative of his vast knowledge in translation and editing. Najaf Daryabandari’s humor lightens the technical aspects of the book, offering interesting and witty points to the readers. Overall, ‘A Conversation’ presents a unique opportunity for young translators to acquaint themselves with the experiences of one of the best in the field.