Sanam Mahloudji
Sanam Mahloudji | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Author, novelist, short story writer, writer, lawyer |
| 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 received the Pushcart Prize for her story "Slut Days"[5] 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.[6] Her short story "Auntie Shirin" was published in McSweeney's in 2018. It later became the basis for her debut novel, The Persians.[7]
The Persians was published in 2024 by Fourth Estate, after a five-way auction for the rights.[8] The novel spans seventy years of Iranian history, telling the story of five women across three generations,[9] and was positively received by critics.[10][11][12][13] It was shortlisted for the 2025 Women's Prize for Fiction[1] and the 2025 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize.[14]
Personal life
Mahloudji and her husband moved to London in 2017, where they currently reside.[2] They have two children.[6]
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.
- ^ Reeves, Rachel (2022-05-27). "The Idaho Review Wins Two Pushcart Prizes". Boise State University. Retrieved 2026-02-25.
- ^ 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". Financial Times. 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.
- ^ Salam, Sabah (2025-10-28). "Richard Ayoade among authors in running to have pig named after book". The Guardian. Retrieved 2025-10-28.