Alefba

Alefba was a Persian-language literary magazine published in two distinct periods: first in Tehran during the 1970s and later in Paris after the Iranian Revolution. The title, written in Persian as الفبا, means “alphabet.” Although the magazine existed for only a limited number of issues, it became associated with modern Iranian literary culture, political independence, and the preservation of Iranian artistic expression in exile. The Tehran edition was established in 1973 after Amir Kabir Publishers invested 25,000 toman in a new quarterly literary journal. Gholamhoseyn Sa'edi, a prominent Iranian writer and playwright, was selected as editor. Sa'edi was closely involved in the magazine’s identity: he chose its name, designed the calligraphic decoration on its cover, and directed its editorial content. The journal appeared during a period when Iran was experiencing an expansion of literary production and the emergence of new writers. It published both established authors and previously unpublished contributors, and its pages included work by well-known intellectuals such as Simin Daneshvar. A defining characteristic of Alefba was its effort to remain open to writers with differing political and intellectual perspectives. Sa'edi valued the magazine’s editorial independence and often selected authors whom he knew personally or whose work had not yet received wider publication. This approach helped the journal develop a reputation as one of Iran’s significant literary periodicals of the 1970s. Its publication was nevertheless affected by the political environment. Sa'edi was arrested by SAVAK, the security and intelligence organization of the late shah’s government, in 1974. He edited the first six issues between 1973 and 1976, while the final Tehran issue appeared in 1977. Following the 1979 revolution and the consolidation of the Islamic Republic, Sa'edi left Iran and arrived in France in 1982. Within months, he worked with the Association of Iranian Writers in Exile to revive Alefba in Paris. The second edition served both as a literary publication and as a cultural forum for Iranian writers living outside the country. Sa'edi described its purpose as maintaining Iranian art and culture under conditions in which he believed the Islamic Republic was suppressing them. The Paris edition published writing by numerous Iranian exiles and also became the principal venue for Sa'edi’s own literary work during his exile. Sa'edi continued as editor until his death in 1985. The last issue, published in 1986, consisted of previously unpublished material by him. Alefba therefore ended not as a continuing commercial media property but as a historically important literary project spanning pre-revolutionary Iran and the Iranian diaspora in France. Its significance rests on its role in introducing writers, sustaining editorial pluralism, and carrying Persian literary activity across the rupture created by revolution, repression, and exile.

Alefba emerged from the growth of Iranian literary publishing during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1973, Amir Kabir Publishers financed the creation of a quarterly literary magazine with an investment of 25,000 toman and appointed the writer and playwright Gholamhoseyn Sa'edi as editor. Sa'edi selected the name Alefba, meaning “alphabet,” and also supplied the calligraphic design used on the cover. His editorial approach combined established literary voices with work by less-known and unpublished writers. The magazine quickly acquired a strong reputation within Iran’s literary culture. It published contributions from prominent intellectuals, including Simin Daneshvar, while maintaining an editorial policy that Sa'edi regarded as politically independent. The publication was not restricted to a single ideological tendency and provided space for writers with different viewpoints. Its development coincided with increasing political repression. Sa'edi was arrested by SAVAK in 1974, and he edited the first six issues published from 1973 to 1976. The last Tehran issue appeared in 1977. After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Sa'edi eventually fled Iran and reached France in 1982. He and the Association of Iranian Writers in Exile re-established Alefba in Paris within months of his arrival. The Paris series shifted the magazine’s role toward cultural preservation and literary communication among Iranian exiles. It published works by Iranian writers living abroad and offered Sa'edi a rare outlet for his own writing outside Iran. He stated that the magazine sought to keep Iranian art and culture alive in response to what he viewed as the Islamic Republic’s suppression of cultural expression. Sa'edi remained editor of the Paris edition until his death in 1985. A final issue appeared in 1986 and assembled previously unpublished writings by Sa'edi. The two publication periods are therefore linked by the title and editor but separated by major political and geographic changes: the first operated in Tehran under the late shah, while the second functioned in Paris within the Iranian exile community. Alefba is remembered as a literary and cultural periodical rather than as a continuing publishing business.

1. 1986Final Paris issue

   The final issue is published as a collection of Sa'edi’s previously unpublished works.

   Source
2. 1985Sa'edi's editorship ends

   Sa'edi continues editing the Paris edition until his death.

   Source
3. 1982Paris edition begins

   After fleeing Iran, Sa'edi works with the Association of Iranian Writers in Exile to revive Alefba in France.

   Source
4. 1977Final Tehran issue

   The last issue of the magazine’s original Iranian series is published in Tehran.

   Source
5. 1974Sa'edi is arrested by SAVAK

   The magazine’s editor is arrested by the security organization of the late shah’s government during the Tehran publication period.

   Source
6. 1973Alefba is established in Tehran

   Amir Kabir Publishers finances a new quarterly literary magazine and appoints Gholamhoseyn Sa'edi as editor.

   Source

Independent Persian-language literary publication focused on Iranian writing, editorial pluralism, and the preservation of Iranian culture in exile.

• Tehran editionLiterary magazine1973

  The original quarterly Persian-language literary magazine published in Tehran from 1973 through its final issue in 1977. It combined contributions from recognized Iranian intellectuals with work by new and previously unpublished writers. Under Sa'edi’s editorship, the publication emphasized literary quality, editorial independence, and the representation of differing intellectual viewpoints.

• Paris editionExile literary magazine1982

  The second series of Alefba was published in Paris after Sa'edi’s departure from Iran. Produced with the Association of Iranian Writers in Exile, it provided a platform for Iranian writers abroad and addressed the preservation of Iranian literature and culture under conditions of political exile. The series continued through a final 1986 issue built around unpublished work by Sa'edi.

1. Alefba