Javad Djavahery's novel 'L'ayatollah aimait sa femme plus que Dieu' published by Gallimard

Javad Djavahery's latest novel, 'L'ayatollah aimait sa femme plus que Dieu,' was published by Gallimard on April 9, 2026. The book tells the story of Maryam, the wife of a Shiite religious dignitary in Iran, who prioritizes studying and learning languages over marital life, pursuits typically reserved for men. Djavahery, an author, was interviewed by Nathalie Amar on RFI. The work blends elements of storytelling reminiscent of 'One Thousand and One Nights.' In a separate segment, Catherine Fruchon-Toussaint met with writer Catherine Delors about her novel 'L'Inconnue de Whitechapel,' published by Héloise d'Ormesson, which reimagines the Jack the Ripper case with a female survivor. The RFI podcast 'Sur le pont des arts' featured these discussions, along with a playlist including tracks by Shiran & Bakal and Corine, Habibisly & Hareth Mehdi.