Fīlʾhā bah Julgah Risīdand: Persiska (Farsi) 2024

Kaveh Oveisi’s Elephants Reached the Plain is a deeply introspective and structurally bold novel that explores the fractured psyche of a man caught between past and present, tradition and modernity, personal memory and collective dislocation. At the heart of this narrative is Mazdak Mokhtari, a tormented protagonist whose internal conflicts mirror the broader struggles of a society in transition. Told through a non-linear structure that echoes the protagonist’s disoriented consciousness, the novel moves fluidly between memory, dream, and fragmented present. This layered temporal style allows readers to gradually piece together the emotional puzzle of Mazdak’s life—his strained family relationships, his nostalgic longing for a vanishing past, and his alienation within a rapidly shifting social landscape. Kaveh Oveisi, a graduate in dramatic literature, embarked on his writing journey in 1998 with the short story “Arash,” which garnered recognition at the Isfahan Students’ Story Festival. He furthered his artistic endeavors by delving into the creation of short films and contributing to theater productions. In the mid-2000s, he honed his craft through participation in Abbas Kiarostami’s prestigious filmmaking workshops, where he not only produced but also showcased his acting talent in several short films. Despite crafting a collection of ten short stories during the early to mid-1990s, they have yet to see publication due to various constraints. Undeterred, in 2017, he demonstrated his directorial prowess with the feature film “Paris Tehran.” In the latter part of the 2010s, he dedicated his creative energy to the composition of numerous extensive screenplays and plays, unfortunately remaining unpublished and unproduced. His literary journey culminates in the publication of his debut novel, “Elephants Reached the Plain,” by Asemana Books.