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More information on Ayatollah Khomeini’s book
by Scott Gilbreath ~ November 16th, 2008
At the risk of incurring the Journalism Doctor’s disdain, I want to thank those who have commented on my recent post “John Miller’s mind is made up”. They have provided enlightening background information on Ayatollah Khomeini’s contentious Little Green Book.
Annie Lessard of Point de bascule supplies the URL of the full text of the French translation, originally published in 1979. The 1980 English translation by Harold Salemson is based on this volume. Ms Lessard says that a leftist philosopher named Jean-Edern Hallier did the translation, the authenticity and accuracy of which has never been disputed.
The graphic at right shows the title page of the French edition.
A commenter calling himself Bob01 has posted several related articles. The Globe and Mail’s review of the Little Green Book was published on 29 January 1980 and written by William French, the literary critic who served as the Globe’s Literary Editor and winner of National Newspaper Awards for Critical Writing in 1977 and 1978.
Harold Salemson, the Little Green Book‘s English translator, was a highly respected book and film critic. Bob01 posted Mr Salemson’s 1988 New York Times obituary here and an excerpt from his entry in the Dictionary of Literary Biography. As Bob01 points out, these items indicate that Mr Salemson’s credentials “are pretty impeccable”.
Finally, Bob01 links to a New York Times article reporting controversy over the Little Green Book. The full article is behind a subscriber wall, but the opening sentences indicate that two Middle East scholars disputed the fairness and accuracy of the English translation, while publisher Bantam defended its book.
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November 17th, 2008 at 05:07 PM
Hi Scott
I can see why you didn’t spend $3.95 American to join the New York Times to actually read the article you and Bob01 refer to as disputing the publication of Ayatollah Khomeini’s sayings, The Little Green Book. Allow me to tell you about it.
It quotes two well-known scholars, Edward Said of Columbia University and Marvin Zonis, former director of the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Chicago. The article was written in 1980, shortly after the book was published by Bantam.
The article quotes Said as saying it was wrong to publish it, that it was “designed to show how primitive and maniacal” Khomeini was.
Zonis goes further. At the time, he was doing his own translation of the Farsi version of the Ayatollah’s work that was supposedly the basis for the Little Green Book.
Some passages in the Green book could not be found in the Farsi, he said, and he mentioned the very quote that is in question here: “The meat of horses, mules and donkeys is not recommended. It is strictly forbidden if the animal was sodomized by a man.”
Just thought that should be pointed out.
November 17th, 2008 at 05:50 PM
Well, I wish Mr. Miller had presented both sides of the debate from the New York Times article. Marc Jaffe, president of Bantam Books, defended his publication of the book.
Another interesting thing about the book is the role of Tony Hendra, long time writer at the National Lampoon (!), in its publication.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Hendra
and
http://books.google.com/books?client=safari&um=1&q=%22Tony+Hendra%22+%22Khomeini%22&btnG=Search+Books
I will have to read Zonis’ book on the fall of the Shah. Interesting guy from his website.
http://www.marvinzonis.com/
November 17th, 2008 at 06:22 PM
By all means, John. Thanks for mentioning that.
Said’s comment relates solely to the alleged purpose of the Little Green Book, not its accuracy, and so I don’t think that’s pertinent. In my view, there are plenty of reasons to regard Ayatollah Khomeini as an exceedingly illiberal (not to say evil) man quite apart from this book.
Zonis actually challenges the authenticity of the book, saying that he can’t find the quotation in the “Farsi version of the Ayatollah’s work that was supposedly the basis for the Little Green Book”. The Little Green Book, as indicated on the title page, purports to be a translation of not one but three of the ayatollah’s published works. It’s not clear if Zonis is looking at all three.
I find this very mysterious and intriguing, so I have ordered a used copy of the Westview Press book that Harper’s quoted and that I mentioned here. A British book shop had one on sale for $80, which may sound like a lot, but I also saw a Colorado bookstore asking over $1000 for the same volume.
It’s supposed to be here by Christmas. I would be happy to share it with you if you wish.
November 17th, 2008 at 08:43 PM
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