Javad Afhamy
Javad Afhamy was born on the first day of spring in 1964 in Bojnord, Iran. He spent his childhood in his hometown before moving with his family to Torbat-e Jam. Amid the Islamic Revolution, he set aside his studies, and with the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War, he joined the Basij voluntary forces, serving on the front lines. His two years of military service in the battlefields of Kurdistan became the foundation for his wartime novel Surān Sard (The Cold Surān), published by Sureh Mehr Publishing in 2005, marking the beginning of his literary career.
Javad established himself as a professional writer with the publication of his short story collection Samand Taxi and his novel The Sun Shone on Their Right Shoulder, both released by Hila Publications. Surān Sard received recognition at the Shahid Ghanipour Festival and was nominated for the prestigious Ghalam Award. The Sun Shone on Their Right Shoulder won the title of Best Book at the Enghelab Festival, cementing his reputation in Iran’s literary scene. His novel The Year of the Wolf, published by Shahr-e Adab in 2011, secured second place at the Enghelab Festival.
Over the years, he has produced an impressive body of work, including the short story collection Purple Umbrella (Afraz Publications) and several acclaimed novels. Among them, Nest on the Heights won the Army Festival Award, while Meeting in the Oak Forest (Sureh Mehr Publishing), Love, the Last Chapter (Shahid Kazemi Publishing), The Stars of Ursa Minor (Fatehan Publishing), and The Daughters of the Tribe of War (Khat-e Moghaddam Publishing) received widespread recognition. The latter earned second place and was commended at the prestigious Jalal Al-e Ahmad Festival. Additionally, Javad has demonstrated his storytelling prowess through narrative documentaries such as Dance in Fire (Shahid Bagheri Publishing) and The Rebellious Winds of Hindu Kush (Khat-e Moghaddam Publishing).
His literary talent has also reached international audiences. His short story The Restlessness of a Serial Killer at the Finish Line was translated into English and featured in the anthology Tehran Noir, published by Akashic Books in New York in 2014.
About Javad Afemi’s book, Love, Chapter One
The novel is centered on the life of Esmaeil A’lami, an Iranian and world weightlifting champion who became a martyr. The narrator, who travels to the city of Ardabil to research his life, uncovers truths that challenge and complicate his understanding of Esmaeil’s character.
In Ardabil, the narrator encounters locals whose unconventional interpretations of concepts such as love, sacrifice, and heroism reshape his perspective. He then seeks out prominent weightlifting champions and veterans of the sport, each offering their own distinct memories of Esmaeil, colored by their personal experiences with him. Through their recollections, the narrator realizes that every person views the fallen hero through a different lens.
Esmaeil’s father remains deeply immersed in the past. His son’s grave rests in an ancient cemetery, yet it is distant from the designated burial ground for the city’s martyrs. The father has long sought approval from the local governor to have Esmaeil’s remains moved to a place among his fellow martyrs.
During his search, the narrator stumbles upon a collection of anonymous love letters among Esmaeil’s belongings. The letters, written in a distinctly feminine tone, overflow with declarations of love, devotion, and tenderness. Determined to uncover the identity of the woman who penned them, the narrator scours every corner, questioning members of the A’lami family. Refusing to abandon his quest, the narrator travels to Tabriz, where he visits the office of Esmaeil’s middle brother, a university professor.
