Shahnameh: the Epic of the Persian Kings [Readers Edition]

A fresh, lyrical new translation of Persia's founding epic. Abu al-Qasem Ferdowsi (940–1020 CE), one of Iran's greatest poets, versified the ancient legends of the Persian Book of Kings (Shahnameh) in verse over one thousand years ago. It is the longest poem written by a single poet. A combination of myth and history told over a series of 50,000 elegant couplets, Ferdowsi dedicated thirty-three years of his life to writing the Shahnameh and intended it to protect the Persian collective memory and its language amid a turbulent sea of cultural storms. This celebrated work traces the storied history of the Iranian people, beginning with the origin myths of civilization and ending with the Arab Conquest of Iran in the seventh century. Featuring a preface by editor and Guggenheim fellow Hamid Rahmanian and an introduction by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, chair of ancient history at Cardiff University, this lush translation by Ahmad Sadri... A fresh and compulsively readable new translation of the Persian epic Shahnameh, for fans of Neil Gaimans Norse Mythology and Edith Hamiltons Mythology. A combination of myth and history, Shahnameh is a classic work by one of Persias greatest poets. Written more than 1,000 years ago in a series of 50,000 elegant couplets, Ferdowsis work protected the Persian collective memory and its language amidst a turbulent sea of cultural storms. Indeed, this beloved epic traces the storied history of the Persian people beginning with the origin myths of civilization and ending with the Muslim conquest of Iran in the seventh century. Featuring a preface by editor and Guggenheim Fellow Hamid Rahmanian, this lush translation by Ahmad Sadri renders the tale in highly accessible prose for contemporary audiences. Readers will be swept away by captivating adventures filled with superhuman heroes, magical creatures, heart-wrenching love stories, and centuries-long battles. 30 illustrations