Symphony of the Dead

Symphony of the Dead is a novel by Abbas Maroufi, first published in 1989. This work offers a contemporary retelling of the story of Cain and Abel, and upon its release in Iran, it received widespread acclaim and praise. The story is set in Ardabil shortly after World War II. Orhan Orkhani, a prominent figure in the city, decides to search for his brother during an extremely cold and harsh winter. Over the course of this single-day search, the entire history of the Orkhani family unfolds in a symphony-like structure for the reader. The family’s struggles are narrated from the perspectives of the father and each of the four children, reflecting, like a mirror, different aspects of life in a patriarchal and oppressive society. A society where brothers are turned against one another, a father is encouraged to reject his own son and burn his poetry, and a daughter is forced to remain in a failed marriage.