Metaphors of Authorship in Medieval Persian Prose: A Preliminary Study

This article examines some strategies in the formation of the authorial personal voice in medieval Persian prose until the second half of the 7th/13th century. It studies four metaphors found in the prefaces to a range of prose compositions. The metaphors include a widely spread ‘a book as a bride’ simile; book as merchandise, book as a garden, as well as likening a book to a newborn. The subtle images of embellishing, cherishing, and procreation suggest the process of ‘bringing forth oneʹs own’ and thus legitimize the authorsʹ ownership of their works.