Iraj Pezeshkzad was born in Tehran in 1928 and educated in Iran and then France, where he received his law degree. He is a retired diplomat, journalist, and writer. He is the author of several plays, short stories, and novels, including My Uncle Napoleon.

Pouneh Shabani-Jadidi is senior lecturer of Persian language and linguistics at the Institute of Islamic Studies, McGill University.

Patricia J. Higgins is a University Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, Emerita at the State University of New York Plattsburgh.