Iranian literary critic A prominent Iranian critic and translator Reza Seyed Hosseini was instrumental in introducing western literature to Persian-speaking readers. In his long career Reza translated works by western writers like Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Thomas Mann and Marguerite Duras into Persian. His most important work 'Literary Schools' into two-volume about western literature, first published in 1955, has been reprinted many times in numerous editions. Educating poets, writers and novelists, Reza also led a group of scholars that compiled an anthology of Iranian literature. Iran's most prominent literary figures are his students. Reza was the editor of Sokhan, a literary magazine. Learning French in Iran Reza improved his command of the language during his trips to France and Belgium. Reza Seyed Hosseini was born in Ardebil, north-western Iran where Turkish is the dominant language. He had a passion for literature since childhood. He died of pneumonia in Tehran.