Haverhill Public Library

Shahnameh, the Persian book of kings, Abolqasem Ferdowsi ; translated by Dick Davis ; with a foreword by Azar Nafisi

eng

illustrations

index present

poetry

Shahnameh

913135926

Abolqasem Ferdowsi ; translated by Dick Davis ; with a foreword by Azar Nafisi

Penguin classics

the Persian book of kings

"The definitive translation by Dick Davis of the great national epic of Iran--now newly revised and expanded to be the most complete English-language edition --has revised and expanded his acclaimed translation of Ferdowsi's masterpiece, adding more than seventy pages of newly translated text. Davis's elegant combination of prose and verse allows the poetry of the Shahnameh to sing its own tales directly, interspersed sparingly with clearly marked explanations to ease along modern readers. Originally composed for the Samanid princes of Khorasan in the tenth century, the Shahnameh is among the greatest works of world literature. This prodigious narrative tells the story of pre-Islamic Persia, from the mythical creation of the world and the dawn of Persian civilization through the seventh-century Arab conquest. The stories of the Shahnameh are deeply embedded in Persian culture and beyond, as attested by their appearance in such works as The Kite Runner and the love poems of Rumi and Hafez. --, Provided by publisher

The first kings -- The demon-king Zahhak -- The story of Feraydun and his three sons -- The story of Iraj -- The vengeance of Manuchehr -- The tale of Sam and the Simorgh -- The tale of Zal and Rudabeh -- Rostam, the son of Zal-Dastan -- The beginning of the war between Iran and Turan -- Rostam and his horse Rakhsh -- Rostam and Kay Qobad -- Kay Kavus's war against the demons of Mazanderan -- The seven trials of Rostam -- The King of Hamaveran and his daughter Sudabeh -- The tale of Sohrab -- The legend of Seyavash -- Forud, the son of Seyavash -- The Akvan Div -- Bizhan and Manizheh -- The occultation of Kay Khosrow -- Rostam and Esfandyar -- The death of Rostam -- The story of Darab and the Fuller -- Sekandar's conquest of Persia -- The reign of Sekandar -- The Ashkanians -- The reign of Ardeshir -- The reign of Shapur, son of Ardeshir -- The reign of Sapur Zu'l Aktaf -- The reign of Yazdegerd the Unjust -- The reign of Bahram Gur -- The story of Mazdak -- The reign of Kesra Nushin-Ravan -- The reign of Hormozd -- The reign of Khosrow Parviz : Ferdowsi's lament for the death of his son -- The story of Khosrow and Shirin -- The reign of Yazdegerd