In Search of Jim; A Successful Experience of Book Diplomacy

According to Khabar Online News Agency, the book “In Search of Jim” written by Mohammadreza Estiri has been published by Sooreh Mehr Publications. This book can be considered a successful example of book diplomacy.

In the publisher’s introduction to the book, it is stated: “‘In Search of Jim’ is Mohammadreza Estiri’s narrative of his mission in the country of Ghana. In this book, with simple and intimate prose, he tells of his memories with the people of this country and his search for a friend named Jim. Throughout the book, the author has tried to present an image of the culture and customs of the Ghanaian people to his audience, in addition to narrating his memoirs.”

Mohammadreza Estiri has previously been active in the field of travelogue writing and has published works in this area. “In Search of Jim” is his first work in the genre of memoir, which focuses on narrating the author’s memories within a specific time and place.

In a part of the book, we read: “When I opened the envelope, the sharp, sweet scent of mango hit my nostrils. One of those large, juicy Ghanaian mangoes, the likes of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. As I read the letter, I was transported from behind my desk in Tehran to ten years ago, to the city of Accra, to the shade of the mango tree in the embassy courtyard, and to Jim, my old friend. Jim, who disappeared one day. No one knew what happened to him or where he went. And now, after ten years, a letter had arrived from him. Jim, in his letter, had reminisced about our shared memories and asked me to write them down. He had written: ‘Our story must be told so that the mangoes of friendship between Iran and Ghana will bear fruit for years to come.’ I picked up my pen and began to write.”

The book “In Search of Jim” has been published by Sooreh Mehr Publications in 212 pages and is priced at 130,000 Tomans.