In the Tavern of the Magi

The novel “In the Tavern of the Magi” is the second literary work by Dariush Mehrjui. Perhaps Dariush Mehrjui is better known to audiences as a director and screenwriter rather than a novelist; however, it should not be forgotten that the foundation of both is storytelling, and Mehrjui is skilled in telling stories. “In the Tavern of the Magi” narrates the life of a young Iranian named Mahmoud in America, who has married an Italian woman and has a young daughter. Mahmoud is a religious Iranian and is repeatedly faced with the dilemma of love and faith throughout the story. The events of September 11th are one of these difficult crossroads. After this incident, the scrutiny against Muslims increases, and Mahmoud must decide whether to give up the love for his wife and child or to practice taqiya and outwardly appear Christian. Subsequently, due to the piety and sanctity stemming from his religious faith and meditation, Mahmoud gains a supernatural power that, like divine blessings in ancient plays, untangles the knots of problems and shapes the story’s outcome. Mehrjui, a philosophy graduate, incorporates a philosophical perspective visible in all his cinematic and literary works. In “In the Tavern of the Magi,” he introduces mysticism against issues such as war and racism, attempting to redefine a noble concept like love. The story weaves various styles including realism, magical realism, and mysticism, using them to explore the essence of love against politics, war, and more. Mehrjui uses colloquial language for narration, a skill honed over years of writing dialogues for cinema, creating a vivid and tangible story rooted in his expertise in staging scenes. Ultimately, this work is more cinematic literature than pure literature, which may lead to differing opinions among audiences.