Shortly after the 1989 publication of "Women Without Men" in her native Iran, Shahrnush Parsipur was arrested and jailed for her frank and defiant portrayal of women's sexuality. Now banned in Iran, this small masterpiece was eventually translated into several languages and introduces U.S. readers to the work of a brilliant Persian writer. With a tone that is stark, and bold, "Women Without Men" creates an evocative allegory of life for contemporary Iranian women. In the interwoven -destinies of five women, simple situations-such as walking down a road or leaving the house-become, in the tumult of post-WW II Iran, horrific and defiant as women escape the narrow confines of family and society-only to face daunting new challenges. Now in political exile, "Shahrnush Parsipur" lives in the Bay Area. She is the author of several short story collections including "Touba" and the "Meaning of Night."