Kelidar

Kelidar () is a novel written by Mahmoud Dowlatabadi in Persian. Comprising ten books in five volumes, the novel was written over a period of fifteen years. It draws extensively on Iranian folkloric themes and has been translated into several languages. The title refers to both a mountain and a village in the Khorasan region of Iran, which serve as the principal setting for the events of the novel.

==Plot== The novel depicts the life of a Kurdish family living in Sabzevar, who face hostility from neighboring villagers despite shared cultural traits. Central to the narrative is the figure of Gul Mohammad, a young rebel who assumes a Robin Hood–like role, rising up against the state and the local lords and khans of Diosirt in an attempt to liberate oppressed peasants. His movement ultimately collapses due to internal divisions, and he and his companions are killed by machine-gun fire. The story unfolds against the tense political climate of Iran in the aftermath of World War II, specifically between 1946 and 1949.