Sofia Koutlaki

Sofia A. Koutlaki is an independent researcher and writer, equally at home in Iran, Britain and Greece. Sofia has made extensive study of how cultures function on a personal and practical level, and all her writing stems from this fascination.

Sofia was born in Athens, Greece in 1964 and read English there, before leaving for England in 1987, where she read Classical Greek. She then worked for Iran Air at Heathrow Airport, taught English in a secondary school in West London and completed her PhD (Cardiff 1997). After ten years in London, she moved to Tehran, Iran, with her family and lectured at Allameh Tabataba'ei, Al Zahra and Imam Sadeq Universities.

Sofia returned to London in 2000 and worked as a specialist language researcher on a three-volume photographic study of Iran's art and culture through history (The Splendour of Iran, London: Booth-Clibborn Editions, in collaboration with Iran University Press 2001). Sofia began work on her first book, Among the Iranians, while teaching English in the private school sector.

Among the Iranians is an essential guide for every visitor to Iran. The book is the product of two extended periods of residency, and the writing has the freshness and immediacy of direct observation; however it is underpinned by a deep academic rigor. Sofia's PhD explored how Persian politeness and perceptions of 'face' affect communication in this spectacular and often misunderstood culture.

In July 2007 Sofia moved back to Iran in order to complete her book. She currently lectures at Shahid Beheshti and Ulum Hadith universities, translates on a freelance basis, and is currently working on a novel set in her native island of Kassos, Greece. She keeps a weekly blog at www.amongtheiranians.blogspot.com.