The Seven Wise Princesses: A Medieval Persian Epic (Hardcover)

~ Wafa Tarnowska (Author), Nilesh Mistry (Author, Illustrator), Nizami Ganjavi (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Tarnowska bases this multidimensional if uneven collection of tales on 12th-century Persian poet Nizami's epic poem Haft Paykar. One day, Bahram, the son of the shah of Persia, discovers a secret room in the grand palace built for him by the king of Yemen, to whom the shah has sent his son to be raised. The portraits of seven fetching princessesAfrom India, China, Russia, Greece, Arabia, Persia and MoroccoAline the chamber's walls, and Bahram vows he will one day meet these beauties. After his father's death and his ascension to shah, Bahram invites them to visit his own palace, and they each tell him a story, the morals of which convey the importance of patience, truth, faith, passion, serenity, fairness and devotion to God. Many of the plots are riveting, such as "The Raja Who Dressed in Black," who grows too impatient to achieve a kiss from the queen of Houris (fairies), or "The Story of Good and Bad," in which a good friend forgives the acts of a bad one; but others seem protracted and labyrinthine (e.g., the Moroccan princess's tale). The language does not achieve that of its poetic origins; the prose is often clunky or clich'd (a wealthy Egyptian is described as having been "born with a silver spoon in his mouth"). And readers may be caught off-guard by the abrupt ending of the frame story (Bahram disappears in a cave). Mistry's (Stories from the Silk Road) ornately bordered, gouache paintings effectively portray the thematic and chromatic content of each entry and include some lovely, intricate mosaics and patterns. Tarnowska's retelling offers insight into a range of cultural lore and symbolism, but may prove esoteric for many young readers. Ages 10-up. (Aug.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Gr 4-7-Tarnowska provides the first English children's translation of Haft Paykar, or "Seven Beauties." Seven princesses leave their homelands upon the invitation of Shah Bahram of Persia and come to live in his palace, each one in a different colored pavilion. The Shah visits a different woman "on the day ruled by the appropriate planet" and each of the princesses relates a tale that entertains as well as instructs listeners. The stories illustrate "the ideals of sovereignty-truth, patience, perseverance, forgiveness, humility, wisdom, and love." Often there is a tale within a tale, and it all becomes a bit convoluted and tedious. The virtues, symbolism, and sensibilities are adult and have little to say to young readers. The length and similarity of the selections are also turnoffs. The gouache illustrations are plentiful and brightly colored. They incorporate some of the motifs of Persian miniatures, but are largely cartoonish in style. A lengthy author's note delineates the symbolism found in the stories. This masterpiece by the 12th-century Sufi poet Nizami may supplement representation of the Middle East in library collections, but it will have difficulty finding an audience on its own.-Kim Donius, Alfred-Almond Central School, Almond, NY

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Barefoot Books (August 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841480223
• ISBN-13: 978-1841480220
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #940,347 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I want my own pavillion!, October 14, 2000

By A Customer

This is a unique collection of stories within a story from a different culture--an Islamic one. The Shah Bahram is wealthy but not happy. He is fascinated with the portraits of seven princesses whom he invites to come live in his kingdom in their own pavillions (beautifully portrayed in the illustrations). Each princess proceeds to tell the shah a story in which seven virtues--truth, patience, perseverance, forgiveness, humility, wisdom, and love--are expounded upon. The shah learns and so do we. There have been an abundance of princess stories and collections in recent years, but this one is unique. I highly recommend it.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stories to Think About, June 2, 2005

By	Sam A. Mawn-Mahlau (Winchester, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book features a series of stories about a King who invites princesses with distinct personalities and diverse views of the world to teach him about their worlds; each establishes herself in a Pavilion of a different color and explains to him why she values the joy, thoughtfulness, or sorrow invoked by that color. When we pull this book out, we know we are in for several nights of successive reading from it, as we work through each of the princesses and her story. There is much for kids to think about as they compare and contrast the separate stories, though overall the stories are an optimistic bunch and quite good for bedtime. You can think of this as a bit of Sherazade without the less appealing elements of the 1001 Nights.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful!, July 16, 2004

By	Avid Reader (Montreal, Canada) - See all my reviews

Wafa Tarnowska brings the middle east and asia into our lives, and does it well. The tales are charming and enjoyable for both kids and adults, and even little ones enjoy the pictures. I also liked the fact that she doesn't "dumb it down" in order to adapt to North American culture - we need more insight into other cultures, and this is a nice place to start. WEll done! Beautiful illustrations too...