In Search of Jim; A Successful Experience of Book Diplomacy

Nasrin Forghani, wife of the Iranian ambassador to China and author of the book “In Search of Jim,” is a graduate in political science. She considers her interest in history, which she has pursued from a young age, as the primary motivation for writing this book. She says, “When I arrived in China, I found the opportunity to delve into the relationship between these two countries (China and the U.S.). This became the main theme of the book ‘In Search of Jim.'”

Forghani explained about the book: “The story is based on true events and is about an American who comes to China for reconstruction after World War II. After a while, he falls in love with a Chinese girl, but then he disappears. The story revolves around the author’s search for Jim and the events that unfold. The main theme of this story is love and peace, and it aims to show that one should never give up on what one loves.”

She added, “Writing this book was a unique and sweet experience for me, and I was happy to contribute, even in a small way, to the cultural exchange between Iran and China.”

Regarding the idea for the book, Forghani said: “The idea for writing ‘In Search of Jim’ came from my observations in China, which has become a major global power. However, the story of the book is about Jim Thompson, an American spy who, after World War II, laid the foundations for the establishment of the CIA in Southeast Asia. A director was supposed to make a film about him, but he disappeared.”

She continued: “My effort in writing this book was to serve as a bridge connecting different cultures. I thank Elmi va Farhangi Publications for creating the conditions that allowed this book to be published.”

This book, which can be seen as a successful example of cultural diplomacy and, more specifically, book diplomacy, has also been translated into Chinese and published there. Forghani has gifted this work to various cultural and political figures.