The School Principal: Jalal Al-e Ahmad’s Classic Novella
The School Principal: Jalal Al-e Ahmad’s Classic Novella is a sharp, introspective narrative that pierces through the facade of Iran’s mid-20th-century educational system. With a tone that oscillates between irony and empathy, this novella explores the psychological decay of a man entangled in the machinery of power, routine, and false authority.
This title stands proudly in the Persian Book category, not just for its literary merit, but for its piercing social commentary. Al-e Ahmad’s narrative style is spare yet symbolic, drawing attention to the absurdities of bureaucracy and the quiet rebellion of the human spirit against institutional control.
The School Principal: Jalal Al-e Ahmad’s Classic Novella Details:
Author: Jalal Al-e Ahmad
Title: The School Principal
Language: Persian
Genre: Novella / Social Satire
Cover Type: Paperback
Page Count: 128 pages
Format Size: Standard Octavo (Requaei)
Setting: Post-WWII Iranian education system
A Window into Iran’s Social Shifts
Written during a time of political tension and cultural transformation, The School Principal reflects Al-e Ahmad’s broader critique of Western influence, intellectual alienation, and moral stagnation. The story’s setting—a public school—becomes a metaphor for a society wrestling with identity, responsibility, and relevance.
Minimalism with Maximum Impact
With its concise structure and elegant prose, the Persian novella delivers a lasting emotional and intellectual punch. Every word is deliberate, every scene stripped to its essence. Al-e Ahmad’s mastery lies in saying more with less—his silences are as telling as his statements.
An Essential Title for Serious Readers
Ideal for lovers of Persian literature, students of modernism, and those drawn to philosophical fiction, this novella remains relevant decades after its release. It’s a brief but profound journey into the mind of a man unraveling quietly, surrounded by noise.
