Saadi's Reception in England: An Explanation of His Presence through the Translations of Orientalists in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries

Document Type : Research Paper

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Assistant Professor, Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Languages, University of Arak, Iran

10.22103/jcl.2025.24190.3784

Abstract

This article examines and analyzes the context of the reception and presence of Saadi in 18th-century England from the perspective of the translations by the Orientalists of the East India Company, demonstrating how these Orientalists contributed to the introduction of Saadi and the acceptance of his works in English society. The analysis is primarily based on a descriptive-explanatory approach. Saadi and other Iranian poets, with the universal and human-centered characteristics of their works, were able to influence various periods of European history, particularly the Enlightenment and Romanticism. The article also highlights the role of Persophilia in the historical transformations of the West, emphasizing that the West used Persophilia as a tool to redefine its identity and transition from scholasticism to humanism. In this process, the translation of Persian works into Western languages played a crucial role in transmitting human-centered and non-Christian concepts. The findings show that the global humanism inherent in the translated Persian works, particularly those of Saadi, is a distinguishing feature, which sets Persian works apart from other literary works, especially English literature

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Journal of Comparative Literature
Volume 16, Issue 31
Current Issue
February 2025
Pages 89-106

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