The Lion and the Throne: Stories from the Shahnameh of Ferdowsi, Vol. 1 (Hardcover)

~ Abolqasem Ferdowsi (Author), Dick Davis (Translator) "In the beginning, men lived in a scattered, haphazard way, without true culture or civilization..." (more)
Key Phrases: Kay Qobad, Kay Kavus, White Demon (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A beautiful book... reminiscent of a medieval Persian manuscript... the volume is a rich and evocative example of bookmaking. -- Choice Magazine

A beautiful book...reminiscent of a medieval Persian manuscript. ...The volume is a rich and evocative example of bookmaking. -- Choice Magazine

Product Description

Among the masterpieces of world literature, perhaps the least familiar to English readers is the Persian book of kings (Shahnameh, in Persian). This prodigious national epic, composed by the poet Ferdowsi between 980 and 1010, tells the story of ancient Persia, beginning in the mythic time of Creation and continuing forward to the Arab-Islamic invasion in the seventh century. the Lion and the Throne covers the first third of the Shahnameh and is followed by two volumes to complete the epic. Brilliantly translated and magnificently illustrated, these volumes give English-language readers access to a world of vanished wonders. The origins of civilizationƒthe notion of kingship...tenderness, a longing for justice, and social order...the first kings felled by foolish pride...demons on the throneƒspiritual heroes and their martial virtues...mythical birdsƒromance and passion - these are some of the threads woven together to form the rich tapestry of ancient Persia. Translator Dick Davis combines his skills as a poet and a Ferdowsi scholar to evoke the metrical music, impact, and nuance of Ferdowsi's monumental poem. Breathtaking miniatures from the finest Persian shahnameh manuscripts of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries heighten the emotional impact of the text. A short afterword by the eminent art historian Stuart Cary Welch, curator emeritus of Islamic Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, unravels the history behind these paintings.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 308 pages
• Publisher: Mage Publishers; 1 edition (January 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0934211507
• ISBN-13: 978-0934211505
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #314,789 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars in fairness to the publisher, September 6, 2000

By	Jeffrey D. Sokolow (Roswell, GA USA) - See all my reviews

I recently saw this book as well as the second volume in the planned three-volume set in the gift shop at the Sackler Gallery in Washington, D.C., in connection with an exhibit of art work from various Shahnameh manuscripts currently on display. In all fairness to the publisher, it should be pointed out that this is a gloriously illustrated art book, not simply a text. The full-color enlargements of miniature fragments from medieval Persian manuscipts are breathtakingly beautiful, and the high price no doubt reflects the fact that this book was very expensive to produce. It is exquisitely produced and for those who can afford it well worth the cost. The rest of us should urge our public libraries to acquire it!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exquisite!, January 21, 2000

By	Ramin (Louisiana, US) - See all my reviews

The Book of Kings, or Shahnameh in Persian, is a compilation of ancient Iranian stories put in Persian verse by Ferdowsi in the 10th Century. Its earliest stories describe the period from the golden age of Elamite civilization to the birth of the prophet Zoroaster. Despite its blend of fantasy and history, this book has been Iran's emotional link to its past for a thousand years. The book itself survived the incredible devastation of the Mongol invasian to become a testament to patriotism and a text book on leadership. This translation includes some magnificent works of manuscript art/calligraphy from the version commissioned by the first two Safavid shahs. (A chapter by Stuart Welch masterfully analyzes the history and techniques of the artwork.) To grasp the moral power of the Book of Kings on Iranians one should recall that its stories have been used by rulers and revolutionaries alike to justify their actions, or inspire reaction, for centuries. The story of Kaveh the Ironsmith (the first non-introductory story of this volume) was used by the revolutionaries to inspire Iranians to rise up against the monarchy in 1979. I for one am very happy to finally see a complete English translation of this international literary classic, and can hardly wait for Volumes 2 & 3. My only criticism of this edition is its price. I hope Mr. Davis did not want to have this compete with the Houghton Shahnameh for exclusivity!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The search is over, May 4, 2003

By	Simosh "simosh" (Bombay, Maharashtra India) - See all my reviews

I have been looking for a version of the shah nameh that both adults and children could enjoy, for years. I was first exposed to these stories as a child by my grandfather and I have never forgotten them. The Heroism, Romance and Tragedy that one is exposed to in these stories is truly exhilarating. It is simply but lyrically translated.The book also has beautiful reproductions of the persian paintings on the shah nameh which are an added treat.
I eagerly await the two volumes which are yet to come.