Shahnameh: The Epic of the Persian Kings

A fresh and compulsively readable new translation of the Persian epic Shahnameh, for fans of Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology and Edith Hamilton’s Mythology.

A combination of myth and history, Shahnameh is a classic work by one of Persia’s greatest poets. Written more than 1,000 years ago in a series of 50,000 elegant couplets, Ferdowsi’s 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.