
Rostam
Tales of Love & War from Persia's Book of KingsIn Stock
ISBN: 9781933823119
Paperback
320 Pages
10 b/w illus
Subjects:
Classic fiction (pre c 1945)
Iran
Rostam is Iran's greatest mythological hero, a Persian Hercules, magnificent in strength and courage. As recounted in the tenth-century Book of Kings (Shahnameh) by the poet Ferdowsi, he was an indomitable force in ancient Persia for 500 years, undergoing many trials of combat, cunning and endurance. Although Rostam served a series of often-fickle kings, he was always his own man, committed to the greater good of Iran. His adventures are some of the best-loved of all Persian narratives and remain deeply resonant in Iranian culture. This book begins with the birth of Rostam's father Zal and ends with Rostam's death. The tales tell of the love between Zal and Rostam's mother, the Kaboli princess Rudabeh; of Rostam's miraculous birth, aided by the magical bird Simorgh; of Rostam's youth and the selection of his trusty horse Rakhsh; of his affair with Princess Tahmineh, the birth of their son Sohrab, and, after Sohrab grows into a mighty warrior himself, the tragic confrontation between father and son. The tales conclude with Rostam's war against demons, his seven trials, his rescue of Prince Bizhan, and finally his battle, both intellectual and physical, with the ambitious and religiously-driven prince Esfandyar.
Abolqasem Ferdowsi was born in Khorasan in a village near Tus in western Iran, in 940. His great epic the "Shahnameh", to which he devoted most of his adult life, was originally composed for the Samanid princes of Khorasan, who were the chief instigators of the revival of Persian cultural traditions after the Arab conquest of the seventh century. Ferdowsi is said to have died around 1020 in poverty and embittered by royal neglect, though confident of his and his poem's ultimate fame. Dick Davis was educated at King's College, Cambridge (B.A. and M.A. in English Literature), and at the University of Manchester (Ph.D. in Medieval Persian Literature). He is currently professor of Persian at Ohio State University. He lived for eight years in Iran (1970-78) and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Dick Davis is an accomplished poet and scholar; he is also the finest translator of Persian poetry. With Layli and Majnun, he brings Nezamis classic to life for the first time in brilliant and moving English verse that captures all the extraordinary power and ingenuity of the original poem. Meanwhile, an introduction and copious explanatory notes shed a fascinating light on Nezamis life and work, and the astonishing virtuosity of his poetic style, that help set the stage for the readers enjoyment of this tour de force of Persian literature.
We understand the importance of accessibility for all of our customers, including those with disabilities. While our website may not currently meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA, we are actively working towards compliance and constantly seeking ways to improve the user experience for all of our customers.
To that end, we have implemented a variety of accessibility tools provided by third-party app, AppifyCommerce. These tools include features such as keyboard navigation, high contrast mode, font resizing, and alternative text for images read focus, various cursor sizes. We have also incorporated tools to help with visual impairments, such as screen readers and text-to-speech functionality.
In addition to these technical solutions, we have also made a commitment to providing clear and easy-to-understand information on our website. This includes using simple and straightforward language, providing alternative text for images and videos, and including clear and detailed product descriptions.
We understand that accessibility is an ongoing effort and that there may be areas of our website that are not fully accessible. If you have any difficulty accessing our website or have any suggestions for improvements, please contact us at [email or phone number]. We will make every effort to respond to your request as soon as possible and work towards resolving any issues you may have encountered.
We also strive to provide equal access to our products and services, including our online store and customer service channels. So, we are always open to feedback, suggestions, and ideas on how we can continue to improve accessibility on our website and in all aspects of our business.
Our ultimate goal is to ensure that all of our customers, regardless of ability, have a positive and seamless experience when visiting our website and purchasing from our store. Thank you for visiting our store and for your patience as we continue to work towards full compliance with the WCAG guidelines.