Hosseinizad’s ‘20 Deadly Wounds’ Released

A novel by writer and translator of contemporary German literature Mahmoud Hosseinizad, 70, has been released, a decade after its completion.

The thriller ‘20 Zakhm-e-Kari’ (20 Deadly Wounds), revolving around greed, murder and horror, received publishing permit from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance after 10 years, Hosseinizad told ISNA.

The long wait has blurred some memories, but “I remember in the very early years, culture officials handed me a list of 60 or 70 words, telling me I should remove them. That was all. There was no other response from them,” he said.

An admirer of Shakespeare, he has based the story on the English playwright’s ‘Macbeth’.

“The novel depicts a struggle for economic gain against a backdrop of financial corruption, with the characters trying to outdo one another. This is followed by a chain of vengeful actions, backed by powers from behind the scenes.”

In response to whether the delay in publication of his book has affected his career as a writer, Hosseinizad admitted that he was disappointed with the delay but “his skin has toughened.”

“If there was logic behind this (delay), it would be easier to understand. It’s been a long while since I have written something.”

In the narrative of his story, Hosseinizad takes his characters through forbidden zones which gradually corrupt their souls. Driven by avarice they kill and deceive. But in their shadows, there are others who have not sat idle; they are waiting for the first opportunity to strike.

The novel is set in downtown Tehran. But there are other locations such as a villa in northern Iran where the story continues.

 The book in 301 pages is brought out by the Tehran-based Cheshmeh Publication.

 Earlier Works

Hosseinizad’s earlier writings include ‘Nahadeh Sar Gharibaneh be Divar’ (Like a Stranger She Has Leaned Her Head on the Wall), published in 1996; ‘Tagarg Amadeh Emsal Barsan-e Marg’ (Hail Came Down in the Manner of Death), published in 1997; ‘Siahi-e Chasbnak-e Shab’ (Sticky Darkness of the Night), 2005; ‘In Barf Key Amadeh?’ (When Did this Snow Fall?), 2011; ‘Aseman Kip-e Abr’ (The Sky Laden with Clouds), 2013; and ‘Sarash ra Gozasht Rouye Felez-e Sard, az Koshtan o Raftan’ (He Laid His Head on the Cold Metal, From Killing n’ Leaving).

On August 28, 2013, Hosseinizad received the Goethe Medal from Goethe Institute in Munich, Germany, for his services and commitment as cultural mediator par excellence in literature, theater and film.