TEHRAN – Director of the Tehran Publishers and Booksellers Association (TPBA) Mahmud Amuzgar has said that Iranian publishers are unfamiliar with foreign readers’ interests.

“We sometimes receive complaints from foreign publishers that a book uses too many words to explain its plot, or the opposite, it is very brief. Therefore paying strict attention to these problems and finding solutions can help us improve in the world publication market,” Amuzgar told the Persian service of MNA on Monday.

Iran is due to attend the Frankfurt Book Fair that will take place from October 14 to 18, and its previous participation can help Iranian publishers make more productive use of their attendance this year.

He emphasized that contemporary history of Iran as well as fiction are the two topics that attract foreign readers’ attention the most and added, “This is quite natural that a story inspired by current issues in the Western countries has no appeal for readers since they want to get to know more about Iranians, their lifestyle, beliefs and traditions.

“Paying due attention to local literature, native characters and national symbols are certainly more interesting for a foreign reader than using a writing technique borrowed from the West in our writings,” he explained.

Observing the copyright law is the other significant topic which needs to be taken into consideration, he said. “When we want to enter the world market, the first rule is to follow its regulations. The Tehran Publishers and Booksellers Association believes in protecting the copyright law,” he said.

He also added that books on basic science such as medicine written by Iranian scholars and published by foreign publications, indicate the fact that foreign readers have a good knowledge of Iranian books on science.

RM/YAW
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