The Monkey’s Wound and Other Stories

• Hajra Masroor's stories are known for their sharp observations, uncompromising tone and strong female characters. This collection brings together stories from her well-known Urdu collection Sab Afsanay Meray, presenting her distinctive voice to English-language readers.

  The stories examine the inner lives of women while also reflecting the social and cultural realities surrounding them. Masroor combines wit, emotional depth and elegant storytelling to reveal the tensions between individual desires and restrictive social expectations.

• Hajra Masroor (1930–2012) was a celebrated Pakistani writer of Urdu short stories and narrative fiction. Influenced by the Progressive Writers' Movement, she became an important voice in Urdu literature. Her writing is noted for its strong female characterization, wit, elegant prose and penetrating portrayal of social realities.

  Tahira Naqvi, the translator, is a writer, translator and scholar of Urdu literature. She has translated works by several major Urdu writers, including Saadat Hasan Manto, Khadija Mastur, Hajra Masroor and Ismat Chughtai.

The Monkey's Wound and Other Stories presents sixteen stories centred on human relationships, social restrictions and the often-unspoken emotional experiences of women. Through different characters and situations, Hajra Masroor explores vulnerability, suffering, dignity and resilience.

The collection offers a nuanced picture of women's inner worlds while addressing the broader realities of society. Masroor's stories combine realism with subtle humour and memorable characterisation, often leaving readers with unexpected insights or endings.

Translated from Urdu by Tahira Naqvi, the collection introduces English readers to an important voice in Pakistani literature and provides a valuable perspective on women's experiences in South Asian society.