Sanam Mahloudji
Sanam Mahloudji | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Author, novelist, short story writer |
| Works | The Persians |
| Awards |
|
| Website | sanammahloudji |
Sanam Mahloudji is an Iranian-American writer. Her debut novel, The Persians, was shortlisted for the 2025 Women's Prize for Fiction.[1]
Early life
Mahloudji was born in Tehran, Iran and grew up in Los Angeles, California, her family having moved to the United States after the Iranian Revolution.[2] Prior to her career as a writer, Mahloudji worked as a lawyer.[3] She began writing short stories after her father's death in 2010.[4]
Career
She is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize and was also nominated for the Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers.
Mahloudji's work has been published in the Idaho Review, the Kenyon Review, and McSweeney’s Quarterly.[5] Her short story "Auntie Shirin" was published in McSweeney’s in 2018. It later became the basis for her debut novel, The Persians.[6]
The Persians was published in 2024 by Fourth Estate, after a five-way auction for the rights.[7] The novel spans 70 years of Iranian history, telling the story of five women across three generations.[8] The novel was positively received by critics[9][10][11][12] and was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction in 2025.[1]
Personal life
Mahloudji is married and moved to London with her husband in 2017, where she currently resides.[2] She has two children.[5]
References
- ^ a b Brame, Jasmine (2025-04-02). "Announcing the 2025 Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist!". Women's Prize. Archived from the original on 2025-06-15. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ a b Mahloudji, Sanam (2025-03-25). "The Power of Absence: How Loss Can Help Fuel a Creative Life". Literary Hub. Archived from the original on 2025-03-28. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ Shaffi, Sarah (2025-03-11). "5 Iranian Women are at the Forefront of New Fiction Release, The Persians". Vogue Arabia. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ Ohanesian, Liz (2025-04-05). "How embracing her heritage allowed Sanam Mahloudji to write 'The Persians'". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on 2025-07-04. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ a b "Sanam Mahloudji". Wasafiri. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
- ^ Brame, Jasmine (2025-03-14). "In conversation with Sanam Mahloudji". Women's Prize. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "Fourth Estate triumphs in five-way auction for Mahloudji's 'divine pleasure' of a debut". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ Rahimi, Rosa. "70 years of Iranian history through five women in The Persians". The New Arab. Archived from the original on 2025-07-01. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ Bonet, Anna (2025-06-11). "I've read every novel on the Women's Prize shortlist – this is the one you need to read". The i Paper. Archived from the original on 2025-06-12. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "Client Challenge". www.ft.com. Archived from the original on 2025-06-14. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ Cannon, Joanna (2025-01-25). "The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji review – women on the edge". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ Anderson, Hephzibah (2025-02-02). "The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji review – highly entertaining matrilineal saga". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-07-22.