Hossein Asgari, for Decadence
Hossein Asgari studied physics and creative writing. His short stories have appeared in The Suburban
Review, Overland, and The Saltbush Review. His first novel, Only Sound Remains, was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards in 2024.
Decadence
Decadence is the third book in a trilogy. In Decadence, In the late nineties, the election of a reformist president brings a sense of optimism to Iran. Fifteen-year- old Hamid is excited about the return of his Uncle Firooz, who spent 20 years in political exile in Germany. Though fond of Firooz, whom he knows only through his blog, Hamid faces sarcasm from his atheist uncle. When Hamid’s grandpa passes away, Firooz and his brothers divide the inheritance according to Sharia law, which favors men. This conflict reveals to Hamid the parallels between family power dynamics and those in Iranian society, leading to his disillusionment with the Iranian intelligentsia.