Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings (Penguin Classics)

An extraordinary edition of Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings by Abolqasem Ferdowsi. The translation by Dick Davis is vivid and accessible, bringing the epic to life with elegance, while Azar Nafisi’s foreword adds meaningful depth. A stunning and essential read.

I can read Farsi but I ordered this English version because it is difficult for me to understand many words in the poetic form. This particular translation is extremely easy to understand . it is well written and the poetic integrity is intact. Two thumbs up . I bought two more for my father and my adult son

Ancient script

The Shahnameh is an amazingly text of massive scope. It begins in legendary prehistory and continues to the Arab Conquest of Iran. Along the way you will meet complex, compelling characters who are often locked against each other in a tragic trajectory. Despite its didactic elements, the Shahmaneh offers plenty of moral ambiguity and elicits sympathy for both rising heroes and those whose stars have started to wane. The text is primarily concerned with masculine spheres, but it still features powerful and complex women from queens, to advisors, to assertive lovers, to warriors on the battlefield. The Shahmaneh also highlights the vast cultural diversity of Greater Iran. While I do not read Farsi myself, all my friends who do assure me that Davis’ is the English translation to go with, and I can vouch that it is a joy to read. Whether you are interested in pre-modern literature, the cultural heritage of Greater Iran, or just enjoy a good read, I can not recommend this highly enough.

this is an expanded edition of Davis's earlier excellent translation. more of quite a very good thing. it is a delight to read and invites total immersion in this historical and literary world. as a general reader i was entranced by Ferdowsi's universe and Davis's language. this work elucidates the history of the entire vast region and period in a way which provides great pleasure in the work itself, admiration for its ethical and aesthetic universe, and better understanding of today's shifting alliances and dreadful conflicts (as well as circumstances in our own parlous times and characters in our own deplorable politics.) Davis's fine introduction mentions that it was impossible to include the entire work in this edition and, pressed by this stricture, the decision to leave out some of the moral minutiae (as being of less interest to contemporary readers.) certainly we could all benefit today from contemplation of moral teachings and from access to more of Ferdowsi's compelling work in Davis's felicitous and seemingly transparent translation.

...what's not to love? at nearly 1000 pages, and having finished it a couple weeks ago, I'm looking forward to returning to this work. I like some stories better than others, but on the whole it's quite the feast. and while almost every sunrise was described artfully, I don't think one was described the same... Ferdowsi is a master of language and is legendary for good reason, and Dick Davis has rendered it so enjoyably with this expanded translation.

Most amazing part of Ferdosi book of king is that it revived and preserved the original Persian Pahlavi language that although written over 1000 years ago it is the sam's as the Farsi spoken in Iran today. Second was to bring back the Persian pride and nationalistic vigor to Iranian at the time being rulled by the Arabs that has survived to this day .... Also in my opinion, the author done an excellent job in translation to the English some resemblance of the original poetry of Ferdosi which total amazing.. I highly recommend it to all...

I love it; very well written and it has details too

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

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.

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.