Bahman Sholevar (Persian: بهمن شعله‌ور) is an Iranian-American novelist, poet, translator, critic, psychiatrist and political activist.

Although most of his writings in the past 42 years have been in English, published outside Iran; although The Night's Journey has never been allowed republication,[1] though sold in thousands of unlicensed copies; and although the Persian version of his last novel, Dead Reckoning, has never been given a "publication permit" in Iran, at their latest re-appraisals some Iranian critics have named him "the most influential Persian writer of the past four decades," [2][3][4][5][6] "one who has had the most influence on the writers of the younger generations.

"[7][8][9][10] He has had other careers as diplomat, physician, psychiatrist, professor of psychiatry and of literature, radio and television commentator, and an international lecturer on “the creative process,” and on “the psychology of arts and artists.” In the past 42 years he has divided his time between writing, translating, practicing medicine and psychiatry, teaching literature and psychiatry at various American universities, lecturing around the world, and fighting against tyranny in Iran in general, and for freedom and human rights of Iranian people, especially Iranian women and Iranian writers and artists.

The Night's Journey was banned a few months after its publication and the author was able to escape to the United States on his diplomatic passport.

From 1968 to 1979 Sholevar was an active and vocal opponent of the Shah's regime and an advocate for freedom and human rights in Iran, until the latter's overthrow by the Iranian revolution of 1979.

"Even though the program to honor him at the "House of Art" was banned by the authorities, the reception and welcome by the writers and the newspapers and magazines were so profuse that finally even the government's radio and television decided to join the flood of interview-seekers.

His last novel in Persian, titled Bi Lengar, has been awaiting a publication permit for nearly two years from the Censorship office of the Islamic Republic of Iran (euphemistically called “Department of Culture and Islamic Guidance.” Sholevar currently resides in Pennsylvania and writes in five languages, English, Persian, Spanish, Italian, and French.