The Little Black Fish
Encyclopedia
The Little Black Fish is a well known children's book written by Samad Behrangi
.
The story is told through the voice of an old fish speaking to her 12,000 children and grandchildren. She describes the journey of a small black fish who leaves the safety of the local stream to venture into the world.
The path of the little fish leads down a waterfall and along the length of the river to the sea. Along the way the fish meets several interesting characters, including a helpful lizard and the dreaded pelican.
With both wisdom and courage, the fish travels far indeed, and the tale ends with the little black fish as an example for others.
The book was widely considered to be a political allegory, and was banned in pre-revolutionary Iran
(prior to the 1978 revolution) by Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi's regime.
Samad Behrangi
Samad Behrangi was an Iranian teacher, social critic, folklorist, translator, and short story writer of Azeri extraction. He is famous for his children's book, The Little Black Fish.-Life:He was born in Tabriz to a lower-class Azerbaijani family...
.
The story is told through the voice of an old fish speaking to her 12,000 children and grandchildren. She describes the journey of a small black fish who leaves the safety of the local stream to venture into the world.
The path of the little fish leads down a waterfall and along the length of the river to the sea. Along the way the fish meets several interesting characters, including a helpful lizard and the dreaded pelican.
With both wisdom and courage, the fish travels far indeed, and the tale ends with the little black fish as an example for others.
The book was widely considered to be a political allegory, and was banned in pre-revolutionary Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
(prior to the 1978 revolution) by Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi's regime.
Translations
- The Little Black Fish (Classics of Persian Literature, 2) Ibex Publishers (June, 1997) ISBN 0-936347-78-3
Awards
- Hans Christian Andersen award for illustrations by Farshid MesghaliFarshid MesghaliFarshid Mesghali is an Iranian graphic designer, illustrator, animator and author.- Biography :Studying painting at Tehran University, he began his professional career as a graphic designer and illustrator in 1964. After his graduation, he joined the Institute for the Intellectual Development for...
(1974) - First Graphic Prize, Sixth International Children Books’ Fair in BolognaBologna Children's Book FairThe Bologna Children's Book Fair or La fiera del libro per ragazzi is the leading professional fair for children's books in the world.Since 1963, it is held yearly for four days in March or April in Bologna, Italy...
for illustrations by Farshid MesghaliFarshid MesghaliFarshid Mesghali is an Iranian graphic designer, illustrator, animator and author.- Biography :Studying painting at Tehran University, he began his professional career as a graphic designer and illustrator in 1964. After his graduation, he joined the Institute for the Intellectual Development for...
(1968) - Honorary Diploma, Bratislava Biannual, Czechoslovakia, for illustrations by Farshid MesghaliFarshid MesghaliFarshid Mesghali is an Iranian graphic designer, illustrator, animator and author.- Biography :Studying painting at Tehran University, he began his professional career as a graphic designer and illustrator in 1964. After his graduation, he joined the Institute for the Intellectual Development for...
(1968)
External Links
- English translation: The Little Black Fish
- The Little Black Fish That Created Big Waves - BBC Radio 4 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b013flf9