| Sumario: | The book *Reading Across Borders: Afghans, Iranians, and Literary Nationalism* explores how Persian literature shared by Iran and Afghanistan evolved into a form of nationalist expression in the modern era. It challenges the conventional Iran-centric view by emphasizing transnational literary exchanges and the institutionalization of literature through individuals, associations, and platforms. The author analyzes shifts in literary concepts such as 'adab' and 'adabiyat' and compares language policies under Iran’s Pahlavi regime and Afghanistan’s bilingual state structure, highlighting their impact on national identity. While the work offers rich archival research and a nuanced critique of nationalism’s cultural effects, it gives limited attention to Afghanistan’s internal literary diversity, ethnic complexities, and the roles of women and lower socio-economic groups. Overall, the book provides a valuable framework for understanding the intertwined literary histories of Iran and Afghanistan and the broader relationship between literature, identity, and power.
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