Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings (Penguin Classics)

Davis says in his excellent introduction (but don’t try to read it before reading the text unless you are already an aficionado of Persian history and literature) that he is writing for the general reader. Well that’s me and he has done a cracking job. At first his gentle, rhythmical apparently simplistic style can seem naïve, until as the centuries of years and pages pass you start to get the wisdom of the philosophy of the text which somehow goes with the beguiling rhythms of the speech, somewhat like a long fairy tale spoken out loud from a rocking chair. I felt I had learned a huge amount of the spirit, the culture and the wisdom of ancient Persia. This ancient poem (mostly translated into poetical prose) tells the story of Persia from more than a thousand years BC up until the triumph of Islam, and indeed commences with a creation myth. It was written perhaps based on written and oral records about 1000 years ago at a time when there was a particular interest in pre-Islamic culture. The author Ferdowsi speaks with a voice representing the religion of the time – pre-Zoroastrian or Zoroastrian. For reasons that Davis is unable to entirely explain it misses out the great Persian Emperors any student of ancient history is familiar with, like Cyrus, Xerxes etc – Davis thinks the author Ferdowsi was spellbound by the history of Eastern Persia/Western Afghanistan which especially the earlier part actually covers. It does include a fascinating account of Alexander (called Sekander), which account as Davis mentions divides the earlier accounts of fantastic heroes most notably Rostam and the later more modern and morally ambiguous more historical tales of the Sasanid kings. All these tales are however told with relish for the drama inherent in them. The Persian style appears to be one of delight in this world – the women, the wine, the countless jewels and wealth - but at the same time religious devotion and brief but profound meditations on morality descend on us typically at the end of every adventure. This book is a great delight, and anyone who likes a good tale and has an interest in Persian history is in for a treat.

A very nice copy of the shahnameh

Heard so much about this on Art of Persia curios to learn more. The translation has such a good flow a pleasure to read

The book is large, but the writing has the easy movement of a folk story. A great insight into Iranian myth and history.

Having watched a documentary on Persia, I decided I had to read this Iranian national epic and this abridged translation seemed to be the best one available. At over 900 pages it is a very long saga of quarreling kings and heroes, filled with moral messages about the fitness of kings to rule, and a timely warning that life is fleeting. Here the supernatural elements include giant birds, magic leaves, angels and demons and the hero Rostam's ferocious strength, and kings crossing rivers without drowning. I really enjoyed the exotic Eastern aspects with rich cities, and sands of the desert, and kings hunting wild asses (rather than stags or boars) with falcons and cheetahs (rather than hounds), and warriors using lariats and maces as well as swords and lances, and riding elephants as well as horses. I enjoyed the dynamic between the empires of Iran, and China, and India, and the West, and finally the Arabs who scorned the riches of the Persian kings. An introduction gives the historical context of the saga which perhaps wasn't as detailed as I would have liked, since it is pseudo-history rather than the ancient history of Darius and Xerxes, and I wondered if any of the characters were based on real historical characters or borrowed from folklore. Alexander the Great is referred to as a Christian, perhaps reflecting the religion of the neighbouring Greek-speaking Byzantines when the epic was written. The stock phrases used throughout these kind of ancient sagas, which is one of the complaints by the reviewers, are by their nature repetitive. Warriors have the hearts of lions, strength of dragons or sea monsters, and are as tall as cypress trees, and women have faces shining like moon with musky hair, and there are so many troops on the battlefield that insects cannot pass between them. A bizarre image was warriors having jewels and gold coins poured over their heads like confetti, as well as processions of elephants and women carrying treasure, reminding me of the Arabian Nights. And yet I quite enjoyed the variations on the sun appearing as a bright lamp in the sky, a gold coin, and a black cloak of night being pulled back. Although there is a list of names at the end of the book, I feel a family tree of the main characters would have helped since most of the conflict is between rival kings of Iran and Turan descended from a common grandfather, whose fortunes ebb and flow throughout the saga and it can be hard to keep track of who is the son of who. Some of the verses do seemed forced, but overall I enjoyed what it was, a pseudo-history of Persian history told in an abridged form through prose and verse.

Excellent. Wonderful stories and excellent translation. So readable that even despite its length one still ends up wanting more.

Absolutely beautiful book. Great illustrations and a high quality book. A real treat.

Interesting reading journey through Persian culture, history and myth.

Paper good. Pleasure reading. I own the more elaborate version, but use this one for day-to-day reading.

Os historiadores e os amantes de História devem ler o magnífico livro Shahnameh (0 Persa Livro dos Reis), escrito pelo poeta persa Abolqasem FERDOWSI.

I love shahnameh. This is the only affordable paperback version on Amazon.

La épica persa, lectura amena con una buena traducción.

As an avid reader of world literature, I recently delved into the pages of Shahnameh by Abolqasem Ferdowsi, and was absolutely captivated by the epic poem. From the very first lines, Ferdowsi's poetic language drew me into the mythical world of ancient Persia, where the gods created the universe and the first king rose to power. Throughout the poem, Ferdowsi's vivid descriptions and colorful characters brought the stories to life in a way that was both entertaining and educational. I was particularly struck by the tales of great heroes such as Rustam and Sohrab, whose bravery and sacrifice resonated with me on a deep level. Their stories, along with those of other kings and warriors, revealed a complex and nuanced view of Persian culture and history that I had never encountered before. But Shahnameh is not just a book about warriors and battles. The stories of love and loyalty, of treachery and betrayal, of human triumphs and tragedies, all wove together to create a tapestry of the human experience that transcends time and culture. Despite being written over a thousand years ago, the themes and values of the poem are still relevant today, and I found myself contemplating the lessons that could be gleaned from the pages. Overall, I would highly recommend Shahnameh to anyone interested in world literature or Persian culture. While the length and complexity of the poem may seem daunting at first, the beauty and richness of the language and the stories make it a rewarding and unforgettable read. Ferdowsi's masterful retelling of Persian history and mythology is a testament to the power of storytelling and the enduring appeal of human experience.