Timeline of Ahmad Shamlou's life

This is a chronology of events in the life of Ahmad Shamlou (December 12, 1925 — July 24, 2000). Each year links to its corresponding "[year] in poetry" article:

1925

Ahmad Shamlou was born on December 12 in Tehran to a family that was to move around Iran because of the duties of his father who was an army officer.

1938

Shamlou leaves high school to enroll in the Technical College of Tehran.

1942

His father takes him to the north of Iran, which was occupied by the Soviet Army. Shamlou is arrested by the Red Army for his political ideas and is sent to Rasht.

1945

Shamlou is released from jail and leaves with his family for Azerbaijan. The separatists arrest him and his farther for a short time. They are sent back to Tehran. Shamlou decides to leave school for good.

1947

First marriage. First collection of poems: The Forgotten Songs.

1948

He writes in a literary weekly called Sokhan.

1950

His first short story is published: The Woman Behind the Brass Door.

1951

Second collection of poems: Manifesto. He shows clear inclinations toward Socialist ideology. Shamlou serves as one of the editors of Khandaniha.

1952

He gets a job in the Hungarian embassy as their cultural advisor.

1953

His third collection of poems, Metals and Sense, is banned and destroyed by the police. His translations of Gold In Dirt, by Sigmund Motritz, and the voluminous novel The Heartless Man's Sons by Mór Jókai, together with all data gathered for his work on the colloquial culture of urban Iranian life (to be known as The Book Of Alley) are also confiscated and destroyed. He escapes and goes into hiding.

1954

He is arrested and kept in jail for 14 months.

1955

He is freed. His four new collections of poems are taken and lost by a publisher. He translates and publishes three novels by European writers.

1956

He becomes the editor-in-chief of Bamshad literary magazine. He is separated from his wife after having two sons and one daughter.

1957

His masterpiece, The Fresh Air, a collection of poems that will influence Persian poetry profoundly, is published. He also publishes a few studies on classic Iranian poetry. He marries for a second time.

1958

His translation of Barefoot, a novel by Zaharia Stancu, is released, establishing Shamlou's authority as a translator. His father dies in summer.

1959

He begins publishing short stories for children, as well as directing documentary films and working for film studios.

1960

A new collection of his poems, The Garden of Mirrors, is released.

1961

He suffers a bitter separation from his second wife. He becomes editor-in-chief of Ketab-e-Hafte, a magazine that changes the tradition and language of literary journalism in Iran.

1962

He meets Ayda, beginning a loving relationship that has lasted until his death. His translations of André Gide and Robert Merle are published.

1964

He and Ayda are married. Two collections of his poetry are published: Ayda in Mirror and Moment and Eternity.

1965

A new collection of poems is released: Ayda, Trees, Memories And The Dagger. He has a new translation published. He also begins his third attempt to compile The Book of Alley.

1966

Another new collection of poems is published: Phoenix In The Rain. His literary magazine is banned by the Ministry Of Information.

1967

He becomes editor-in-chief of Khusheh. His new translation of Erskine Caldwell is published. He participates in the formation of the Union of Iranian Writers and gives several poetry readings at Iranian universities.

1968

He begins his study of Hafiz, the classical grand poet of the Persian language; translates García Lorca's poems and Song of Solomon from the Old Testament; organizes a week of poetry reading for established and new Iranian poets, which is very well received. The poems debuted at this event appear in a voluminous book edited by Shamlou.

1969

His weekly magazine is closed down by the police. Of The Air And Mirrors, a selection of older poetry, is published, together with his collection of new poems, Odes For The Earth.

1970

New collection: Blossoming In Mist. He directs a few documentary films for television and publishes several short stories for children.

1971

He redoes some of his earlier translations. His mother dies.

1972

He teaches Persian literature at Tehran University. Several audio cassettes are released of Shamlou reciting other classical and modern poets' work. He obtains membership in the Iranian Academy of Language. He publishes several new translations and writes a few film scripts. He travels to Paris for medical treatment.

1973

Two new collections, Abraham In Fire and Doors And The Great China Wall, are released, along with several new translations.

1975

Publication of his work and study of Hafiz.

1976

Travels to the United States and gives poetry readings in many cities. He participates in the San Francisco Poetry Festival before returning to Iran.

1977

New poem: Dagger On The Plate. He leaves Iran in protest of the Shah's regime and stays in the United States for a year, giving lectures in American universities.

1978

He leaves the United States for Britain to act as the editor-in-chief for a new publication called Iranshahr; resigns after 12 issues and returns to Iran just after the advent of the Revolution; rejoins the Union of Iranian Writers; begins publishing a new periodical, Ketab-e Jom'e to great success. This very active year in his life sees him publishing many poems and translations, as well as giving numerous lectures and readings. He is also elected to the membership of the Writer's Union's leadership. He is at this point considered the finest Iranian poet.

1979

Another year of intensive activity on different fronts. The first and second volumes of The Book of Alley go to print. He is re-elected as member of Writer's Union leadership.

1980

Starting now, owing to the harsh political situation in his country, he would lead a rather secluded life that would last for the next eight years, working with Ayda on The Book Of Ally, as well as many other literary endeavors, including a translation of And Quiet Flows The Don by Mikhail Sholokhov.

1984

He is nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature.

1988

He is invited by Interlit, the World Literary Congress. He tours Europe giving many lectures and readings. His complete collection of poems is printed in Germany. He returns to Iran.

1990

He tours the United States. Human Rights and The Fund For Free Expression present him with their annual award. Several works are published on his poetry and his overall literary contribution.

1991

He tours Europe again and returns to Iran for another four years of intensive work. This same year he wins the Freedom Of Expression Award given by the New York–based Human Rights Watch.

1992

His work appears in Armenian and English: Sacred Words.

1994

He tours Sweden giving numerous lectures and readings.

1995

He finishes the translation of And Quiet Flows The Don. There is a special gathering in Toronto of Iranian writers and critics to discuss Shamlou's contribution to Persian poetry. His works are published in Spanish: Aurora!.

1996

His physical condition deteriorates. He undergoes several operations.

1997

His right foot is amputated due to severe diabetic problems.

1999

He is presented with the Stig Dagerman Award by the Swedish Foundation.

2000

Ahmad Shamlou passes away on Sunday July 23 at Iran-Mehr Hospital in Tehran due to complications from his diabetes.