Reading Lolita in Tehran

Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi is a compelling memoir that explores the power of literature as an act of resistance in a repressive society. Set in post-revolutionary Iran, the book recounts how Nafisi, a passionate literature professor, secretly gathered seven of her most devoted female students in her Tehran home every Thursday morning for two years.

At a time when Islamic morality squads patrolled the streets, universities were overtaken by ideological control, and censorship silenced artistic expression, these private meetings became a refuge of intellectual freedom. Behind closed doors, the women removed their veils and read banned Western novels by authors such as Jane Austen, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Henry James, and Vladimir Nabokov. Through these stories, they explored themes of love, individuality, moral choice, and personal freedom—ideas largely denied to them in their daily lives.

Nafisi skillfully intertwines the narratives of her students with the novels they study, showing how fiction reflects and illuminates their real struggles. Literature becomes more than an academic subject; it serves as a lifeline that nurtures imagination, courage, and self-expression.

Widely praised for its emotional depth and insight, Reading Lolita in Tehran offers readers a moving portrait of women seeking dignity under tyranny. It is both a personal memoir and a tribute to the enduring, liberating power of books, demonstrating how reading can preserve humanity even in the most restrictive circumstances.