CHUBAK, SADEQ-I

born Aug. 5, 1916, Bushire, Iran also spelled Sadiq Chubak author of short fiction, drama, and novels, one of the leading 20th-century writers of Iran. Chubak's short stories are characterized by their intricacy, economy of detail, and concentration upon a single theme, causing some to compare them to Persian miniature paintings. Chubak grew up in Shiraz, Iran, and graduated from the American College of Tehran in 1937. His literary mentor, Sadeq Hedayat, a well-known Iranian author, influenced him, as did the writings of American authors Henry James, William Faulkner, and Ernest Hemingway. Chubak developed a style of his own, however. Writing in the colloquial language, he captured moods successfully and told his tales with unmistakable realism. Chubak's best-known works include Khaymah-i shabbazi (1945; "Puppet Show"), a volume of short stories that is divided into 11 sections, each of which portrays an aspect of daily life; Antari kih lutiyash murda bud (1949; "The Monkey Whose Master Died"); the satirical play Tup-i lastiki (1962; "The Rubber Ball"); and two novels, Tangsir (1963) and Sang-i sabur (1967; "The Patient Stone"). Chubak also translated a number of works from English into Persian, including Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.