Iranian's writer whose work was a beacon Modern Iranian novelist Simin Daneshvar made her way in a literary scene in her best-known work, Savushun (1969) that provided an account of life under occupation that enjoyed international success. It still resonates with her compatriots. The novel is set in the southern city of Shiraz, against the backdrop of the historical events of 1946-47, with the buying of grain and livestock by the British forces resulting in widespread famine. She became the first Iranian woman to publish under her own name, with her first book, a collection of short stories. 'The Island of Wandering' (1992) was her another bestsellers of Iranian literature. Thereafter followed 'The Wandering Cameleer' (2001) and 'Selection' (2007). Her books examined the lives of ordinary Iranians, especially women, and through her characters, offered a distinctive view on to Iran's recent social and political history. She was elected as the first chair of the Iranian Writers Union when it was established in 1968. She took a keen interest in encouraging other female authors. Born in Shiraz, Simin Daneshvar obtained her doctorate, in 1950, based on a study of beauty as treated in Persian literature, from Tehran University. She worked on Radio Tehran. Later she went on a two-year Fulbright fellowship at Stanford University, California. After returning to Tehran, she lectured on art history at the university until her retirement in 1981.