Böcker av Feridon Rashidi

This collection contains diverse fables, allegories and tales. Through the fables animals, representing people, tell relate cultural characteristics, the ways of thinking and ways of communication among the Iranians with black sense of humour. What happens when a jackass is asked to judge which of two birds sing better. What happens when two hungry wolves try to explain the meaning of democracy to a naïve sheep! How a smart crook preaches the folks in a mosque in the morning; becomes the chief of police and pockets the share of the booty given to him by the robbers; at dusk he becomes a beggar, sitting by the door of the same mosque and asks for alms, and after midnight he turns into a thief! The Mice and the Cat, savagely satirises the fat cats of the repressive regime and the folly of the sycophantic 'little people' under their thrall. The unexpected twist in the tale leaves one breathless at its ruthlessness! A henpecked man, bullied by his wife, falls in love with an attractive neighbour and disappears with her into the jungle of Tehran. An old village headman searches endlessly to find out about his soldier son during Iran-Iraq war...

Haaji Morteza lives with his wife and closest relatives in Tehran. As his wife, Ashraf Khanum, cannot have a child, his mother decides to find him a second wife. Her sights are set on Faati, the stunning but evil-tempered daughter of a bath house attendant. Haaji Morteza, secretly lusting after Faati's charms, finally, with her consent, marries Faati. Haaji orders a carpenter to make an extra-large bed for three people. The first night in the bed ends up with the two wives fighting over who is going to enjoy his body first. Haaji convinces Ashraf Khanum that he should sleep one night with Faati in a separate room and another with her. Faati wants the Haaji all to herself. After a chum recommends some sexual-potency enhancement potions, Faati soon falls pregnant and becomes the favourite wife. Ashraf Khanum, ignored by Haaji, resigns herself to the fate of a woman cast aside by him, finding solace in Islamic rituals. One day a squabble breaks out in the house between the other women and Faati over household chores. Bent on revenge, Faati asks her snake-charmer father for help. Soon things take a catastrophic turn ...