Mahmood Falaki was born in northern Persia in 1951. In Iran he first studied chemistry and library science. During the Shah period he was sentenced to three years imprisonment for his political and literary activities. After the mullahs took over power, he had to leave the country. He has lived in Germany since 1983 and in Hamburg since 1986. He completed his studies in German and Iranian Studies at the University of Hamburg. He became a doctor phil via "Goethe-Hafis". PhD. His literary work includes poetry, short stories, novels and literary criticism, of which 22 books have been published so far.