Siamak Herawi

was born in 1968, in Herat. There he received his primary education at Amir Dost Mohammad Khan High School and continued at Habibie High School in Kabul. In 1984, Herawi started his higher education at the Faculty of Language and Literature of Kabul University. A scholarship led him to Stavropol University in the former Soviet Union, where he earned a master’s degree in Russian language and literature. The journey from local schools to international academia set the tone for a life of versatility and broadened perspectives.

Herawi’s career spanned roles as a reporter, chief editor, diplomat, and spokesperson. From 2001 to 2003, he served as the managing director of »Anis«, the state newspaper. Later, he ascended to the position of the head of the news department in the Office of the President’s Spokesperson. In 2013, he assumed a more significant role as the deputy at the spokesperson’s office under President Hamid Karzai. Subsequently, Herawi transitioned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ultimately acting as the head of the Afghan embassy in London from March 2015 to June 2016. He then resigned to concentrate on his passion—literature.

»I am happy… that I have an opportunity to focus on my books and writings. I hope that I will be able to reflect more of the pain and suffering of my people in my books«, Herawi said in an interview with BBC Farsi.

Herawi’s literary journey started in the 1980s with a collection of folk tales from Herat. His oeuvre grew to include thirteen books published over 15 years. These works, often reflecting the realities of Afghan society, won him considerable acclaim. Among his most prominent novels is »Tali Girls« (2023) a sobering exploration of the lives of girls and women under Taliban rule. His latest work, »Char Fasl-e Soqut« (tr: Four Seasons of Fall), published in spring 2023,

scrutinizes the social and political reasons behind the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan. Herawi, a man of many hats—diplomat, journalist, spokesperson, and, foremost, writer—now dedicates himself fully to his literary pursuits. The author lives in London.

Tali Girls

Archipelago
New York, 2023
[Ü: Sara Khalili]