Shahnameh: The Epic of the Persian Kings [Illustrated Slipcase Edition]

This is not a complete translation of the "Shahnameh", in fact, it's hardly a translation at all. If you want to read the epic poem in its entirety, secure Dick Davis's prose translation published by Penguin Press. You won't regret it. Dick Davis is one of the finest scholars of Persian literation today, an inspired translator with a keen sense of poetry. His most recent publication, "Faces of Love", translates Hafez and two other poets of Shiraz and does full justice to these Persian-languages poets, unlike others who don't know Persian but claim Hafez visits their dreams! This publication has an entirely different purpose and fulfills that purpose with brilliance and wonder. Countless artists of the Islamic world have illustrated scenes and characters from Ferdowsi's epic. (Dick Davis's translation contains lithographs from 19th century versions.) For this volume an artist named Hamid Rahmanian took many illustrations and recast them to illuminate the text "with over 500 pages of lavish illustrations", as the publisher puts it. And the result is one of the most magical and uniquely beautiful books in my home library. Every time I look at it, read from it, browse through it I am happy that I bought it. Literally, every page is alive with color and design that illustrates the events of the text. The consistently high quality of these illustrations is breathtaking - there is not a false moment in the whole 572-page book! How many publications can you give such unreserved praise! Now for the text: as I wrote in my opening statement this is not the text of Ferdowsi's epic poem. A writer named Ahmad Sadri wrote a prose summary of the poem which makes up the text. In Dick Davis's translation, the illustrations serve his complete translation; in this version, Sadri's prose serves the illustrations. So the two versions are exact opposites. What this means is that this magnificent collection of creative illustrations can accompany you as you read Davis's translation. Or you can skip the epic in its complex and convoluted narrative (886 pages in the Penguin edition!) and enjoy this version as an object of art. Either way you will be enriched by your encounter with one of the great war epics of world literature, a work which occupies the same exalted status in Islamic culture that the "Iliad" and the "Aeneid" occupy in Western culture. (And aren't we Americans past due in appreciating Iranian culture in particular, considering our 21st century karma has inextricably entwined the fates of our two societies?) One further note: in 2006, the artist Zak Smith published a collection of pictures which illustrates what happens on each page of Thomas Pynchon's 1973 novel, "Gravity's Rainbow", an enormously complicated book well served by Smith's scintillating pictures. To one who has indeed the whole of Ferdowsi's epic poem, I can sincerely commend this version as an alternative to reading the medieval text. It is as if you were to see a film version of a novel that does justice to the book. For example, Terence Malick's film, "The Thin Red Line", from 1999 does justice to James Jones's 1962 novel. The important issue as I see it is this: in today's world cultural literacy involves a knowledge of the literature of the world of Islam. This version of one of the seminal works of Persian literature can provide that knowledge, and what's more, the experience of it through art.

This visually stunning volume is captivating both in its appearance and its content. The illustrations, meticulously curated by Hamid Rahmanian, are drawn from centuries of authentic manuscripts. Ahmad Sadri's translation of Ferdowsi's poetry is accessible and engaging. The tales of ancient Iran are truly intriguing. I wholeheartedly recommend this remarkable book!

The recently translated and fully illuminated and illustrated version of the epic of the Persian king is itself an achievement of epic proportions. Ahmad Sadri has a mesmerizing way of relating the epic battles and erotic exploits of the heroes and heroines of The Book of Kings. His method of abridging the text and presenting it in user friendly chapters for the modern reader is a masterpiece of parsimonious selection and engaging presentation. The translator remains fiercely committed to the original content and refuses to add or subtract any relevant detail. But he also is judicious in cutting out the repetitious and the trivial. For instance the chapter dealing with the Return of the King Kay Khosrow from Turan (that has been curiously left out of Dick Davis 800 page translation of Shahnameh) reads at once as an epic tale and a modern adventure movie script. I hope that the hard work of Ahmad Sadri will pave the way for other experts to roll up their sleeves and follow suit in rendering other works of Iran's poetic heritage. I must confess that I came close to experiencing an epiphany in certain moments of reading this gorgeous version of Shahnameh, a state that I had not achieved in my previous encounters with these stories. In a certain sense, reading it in this eloquent English translation did not merely refresh the story in my mind; it allowed me to look at what was familiar in an entirely new light. Sadri and Rahmanian have collaborated in such a perfect way as to enliven the ancient Persian epic and impact the emotional landscape of entire new generations. God bless them. I am eagerly looking forward to their future works and to works inspired by the trend they have set.

I bought this incredible book on Amazon a few weeks ago for $46.99 and it is worth every penny and more. One must be a poet to even attempt the great Persian epic of kings, the Shahnameh. When I lived in Iran as a teenager in the 70s, I would occasionally bumble into a bar or teahouse and quite often there would be a man reciting and acting out something to the rapt attention of the crowd, everyone except me that is, the long-haired faringi boy looking for kebab and chai. I had no clue what was going on but it was most certainly the "Shahnameh". Imagine it being a common occurrence to go into a Western bar and hear a poet's heartfelt rendition of Shakespeare... and the customers listening and enjoying it. That's the kind of gravitas this book has in Persian culture and in the history of great literature. I've tried to read the Shahnameh, but I don't speak Farsi and the beautiful lyricism of the language was lost to me in translation. What this book does extremely well is to apply the grand artistry of Persian heritage to the English translation of the prose. Every page is a joy to look at, so well crafted and illustrated. Now, at long last, I know what I was missing... but hey, the kebabs were always delicious and the teapots never ending. ;-)

Beste boek ooit

Esta edición de Shahnameh es, sin duda, uno de los libros más bellos que jamás he visto, con una maquetación y unas ilustraciones absolutamente exquisitas. Es una auténtica obra de arte que es un deleite para los sentidos. Realmente impresiona. Mis felicitaciones al autor.

The Shahnameh: The Epic of the Persian Kings is an absolutely beautiful book—both visually and in its storytelling. The quality of the print, binding, and illustrations is top-notch, making it a perfect gift for anyone interested in Persian culture, mythology, or epic literature. The stories are rich, dramatic, and timeless, capturing the grandeur of ancient Persia in a way that's truly unforgettable. A must-have for any collector or lover of classic tales.

Wunderschön

I purchased this book on behalf of my friend who is interested in all things Persian. The book is beautifully made. Good quality materials. Truly something that you can pass down to anyone interested in this particular subject. The purchase price seems a bit expensive but when you got the book you can see that the price is justified. My friend, who has many books along this line, thinks it's probably the best one she has. Would highly recommend. Worth the money. So much effort has been put into this book, both in the actual production of the book but also the beautiful pictures.