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Shahnameh

The Epic of the Persian Kings [Readers Edition]

Ferdowsi Ahmad Sadri Hamid Rahmanian Melissa Hibbard

$74.95

Hardback

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English
Liveright
26 May 2025
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 renders the tale in highly accessible yet atmospheric prose for contemporary audiences. Under Sadri's deft hand, legendary adventures of superhuman heroes, encounters with magical creatures, and heart-wrenching love stories come alive off the page, capturing readers' imaginations.

To this day, people of all ages in Persianate societies can recite lines of Shahnameh by heart. The book continues to be read in family gatherings and performed by professional reciters in the teahouses of Tajikistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. The bedrock of Iranian nationhood and a literary masterpiece, this beloved epic holds the promise of cultural conservation-and celebration-within its every page.
By:  
Introduction by:  
Edited by:   ,
Translated by:  
Imprint:   Liveright
Country of Publication:   United States
Edition:   Readers Edition
Dimensions:   Height: 244mm,  Width: 165mm,  Spine: 41mm
Weight:   1.007kg
ISBN:   9781324093800
ISBN 10:   1324093803
Pages:   640
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active

The ancient legends of the Persian Book of Kings (Shahnameh) 1 were versified by Abolqasem Ferdowsi (940-1020 CE), who was born to a family of small landowners near the city of Tus, in northeastern Iran. Melissa Hibbard is a writer/producer and co-founder of Kingorama's Shahnameh Project, also based in New York. Hamid Rahmanian is a John Guggenheim Fellow and multidisciplinary artist based in New York. An Iranian sociologist and translator, Ahmad Sadri is a professor of Islamic world studies, sociology, and anthropology at Lake Forest College, and lives in Illinois.

Reviews for Shahnameh: The Epic of the Persian Kings [Readers Edition]

A masterpiece of world literature that has influenced some of the greatest works ever written--from Dante to Tolkien. Ahmad Sadri's new, contemporary translation of the Shahnameh captures the beauty and grandeur of this sweeping epic of heroism, love, and the timeless struggle for justice. .... An accessible, powerful experience of this enduring classic.--Reza Aslan, author of An American Martyr in Persia: The Epic Life and Tragic Death of Howard Baskerville The single most important text for understanding the history and worldview of the Persianate world. .... The modern translation in prose by Ahmad Sadri beautifully captures the essence of this great medieval Persian epic for the English-speaking world.--Touraj Daryaee, Maseeh Chair in Persian Studies and Culture, University of California, Irvine A masterful prose translation of the Shahnameh ... which remains a pillar of Iranian identity to this day. This new translation will make the tales of the Shahnameh, replete with heroes, kings, and moral injunctions, available to a new generation of readers.--Ali M. Ansari, founding director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St. Andrews The definitive English-edition Shahnameh. There cannot be a more lovingly translated, artfully presented version--what a profound gift for lovers of Iran, history, language, poetry, humanity. What a gift for us all.--Kaveh Akbar, author of Martyr!


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