Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings

“Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings” is the timeless masterpiece by the Persian poet Ferdowsi. The epic poem, believed to have been written between 977 and 1010 AD, tells of the mythological and historical past of Persia from the creation of the world up until the Islamic conquest of Iran in the seventh century. The “Shahnameh” is a captivating story of an ancient world and details much of early Persia’s history, culture, and Zoroastrian religion. The poem, consisting of over 50,000 couplets, or two-line verses, is a work of great importance in Persian culture and helped shape the development of the modern Persian language. The poem is regarded as the national epic and symbol of Iran and is celebrated in many areas that were once a part of the ancient Persian empire, such as Afghanistan, Turkey, Armenia, and Georgia. The lyrical account of Persian history in “Shahnameh” has had a profound influence on Persian literature and the work is referenced in the timeless love poems of Rumi and Hafiz. “Shahnameh” endures as an important historical record of an ancient people and a beautiful and poetic celebration of the Persian culture. This edition includes a biographical afterword and follows the translation of James Atkinson.