
Shahnameh
The Persian Book of Kings
Elizabeth Laird(Author)
Frances Lincoln Children's Books (Publisher)
Published on 6. February 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
120 pages
978-1-84780-497-6 (ISBN)
Description
The Shahnameh is a collection of stories and myths from ancient Iran, filled with kings, heroes, princesses, magical animals and demons. Written as an epic poem by the poet Ferdowsi in the 10th century, it is one of the great classics of Persian literature. The tales include the Simurgh, the giant bird who brings up an orphaned king in her nest on a craggy rock, wicked King Zahhak with his man-eating snakes, and above all the story of the great hero Rustam and his son Sohrab.
Elizabeth Laird is passionate about bringing this great epic poem to the children of western cultures, as well as retelling it for Iranian children living in the West.
Elizabeth Laird is passionate about bringing this great epic poem to the children of western cultures, as well as retelling it for Iranian children living in the West.
Reviews / Votes
'astonishingly beautiful ... Elizabeth Laird has managed to make the tales accessible for children whilst retaining the mystery and magic found in the original poem.' 'The stories have been carefully chosen, sensitively retold and collected together to capture the imagination of the reader, to ensure that they enjoy reading and having these stories read to them, as these are stories that need to be read aloud too... evocatively illustrated and will in fact appeal to children and adults alike all of whom will fall in love with this most exciting and beautiful of books about myth and history. A great classic that has been given the treatment it deserves and the coverage it has long needed.' Master storyteller Elizabeth Laird has retold this Persian classic with elegant simplicity and Shirin Adl's lively art work makes for a very pretty book. Master storyteller Elizabeth Laird has retold this Persian classic with elegant simplicity and Shirin Adl's lively art work makes for a very pretty book.the tales retain their poetic quality but are accessible and easy to read. ... it is a visually stunning and unusual book.
'Frances Lincoln produce some wonderful versions of traditional tales and this is another to treasure - an ideal gift and a lovely keepsake...an enticing insight into an ancient culture, and the lyrical retelling is a delight to read aloud.'
'The stories have been carefully chosen, sensitively retold and collected together to capture the imagination of the reader, to ensure that they enjoy reading and having these stories read to them, as these are stories that need to be read aloud too... evocatively illustrated and will in fact appeal to children and adults alike all of whom will fall in love with this most exciting and beautiful of books about myth and history. A great classic that has been given the treatment it deserves and the coverage it has long needed.'
'astonishingly beautiful ... Elizabeth Laird has managed to make the tales accessible for children whilst retaining the mystery and magic found in the original poem.'
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Quarto Publishing PLC
Target group
Children/juvenile
Young adult
Interest Age: From 11 to 14 years
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 278 mm
Width: 214 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-84780-497-6 (9781847804976)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Elizabeth Laird is the renowned author of Kiss the Dust, The Garbage King and A Little Piece of Ground. She has been shortlisted five times for the Carnegie Medal. She has a longstanding interest in Persian literature and has travelled extensively throughout the Middle East. Her other books for Frances Lincoln are Pea Boy: Stories from Iran, A Fistful of Pearls: Stories from Iraq, and The Ogress and the Snake: Stories from Somalia. Elizabeth divides her time between London and Edinburgh.SHIRIN ADL was born in Harlow, England, in 1975. She received a first class BA honours in illustration from Loughborough University, and won the Hallmark M&S division Talented Designer Award. She currently lives in Oxford with her husband.
Content
Contents
AT THE BEGINNING OF TIME
King Hushang, the Master of Fire
King Tahmuras, the Tamer of Animals
Jamshid the Glorious, Master of the World
THE WICKED KING ZAHHAK
Zahhak Murders his Father
Greedy Zahhak and his Loathsome Snakes
The Death of the Great Jamshid Faranak Hides her Little Son
Feridun Learns the Truth Kaveh, the Courageous Blacksmith
Feridun Rides to War The Triumph of Feridun
SAM, THE FIRST CHAMPION OF KINGS
The Champion Sam, and Zal, his White-Haired Son
Sam Searches for his Son Zal Goes Hunting
King Mehrab's Beautiful Daughter
Rudabeh's Companions Set their Trap
The Falcon Catches the Dove
The Marriage of Zal and Rudabeh
RUSTAM THE HERO
A Champion is Born The Miraculous Baby
Rustam and the White Elephant Trouble Comes to Iran
Rustam Finds his Marvellous Horse Rustam Seeks for a King
The Noble Kay Kobad
THE FOOLISH KING KAY KAVUS
The White Demon of Mazanderan
Zal Hears the News
THE SEVEN TRIALS OF RUSTAM
Rustam's First Trial Rustam's Second Trial
Rustam's Third Trial
Rustam's Fourth Trial Rustam's Fifth Trial
Rustam's Sixth Trial Rustam Finds the King
Rustam's Seventh Trial Ulad Wins his Kingdom
KAY KAVUS THE FOOLISH
Rebellion in Barbary The King of Hamaveran's Daughter
The King of Hamaveran Takes his Revenge
Kay Kavus Flies with the Eagles
THE STORY OF RUSTAM AND SOHRAB
Rustam Loses Rakhsh The King of Samagan's Daughter
Tahmineh The Birth of Sohrab
Afrasyab Plots and Plans Sohrab and the White Fortress
Gordafarid, the Warrior Girl
RUSTAM IS SUMMONED
King Kavus Sends for Rustam The Anger of Kay Kavus
Kay Kavus and Rustam March to War
Rustam Spies on Sohrab Sohrab Looks for Rustam
THE BATTLE OF SOHRAB AND RUSTAM
Sohrab Makes his Challenge
The First Battle Between Sohrab and Rustam
Sohrab and Rustam Return to their Camps
Sohrab Throws Rustam to the Ground
The Final Battle The Grief of Rustam
The Death of Rustam
AT THE BEGINNING OF TIME
King Hushang, the Master of Fire
King Tahmuras, the Tamer of Animals
Jamshid the Glorious, Master of the World
THE WICKED KING ZAHHAK
Zahhak Murders his Father
Greedy Zahhak and his Loathsome Snakes
The Death of the Great Jamshid Faranak Hides her Little Son
Feridun Learns the Truth Kaveh, the Courageous Blacksmith
Feridun Rides to War The Triumph of Feridun
SAM, THE FIRST CHAMPION OF KINGS
The Champion Sam, and Zal, his White-Haired Son
Sam Searches for his Son Zal Goes Hunting
King Mehrab's Beautiful Daughter
Rudabeh's Companions Set their Trap
The Falcon Catches the Dove
The Marriage of Zal and Rudabeh
RUSTAM THE HERO
A Champion is Born The Miraculous Baby
Rustam and the White Elephant Trouble Comes to Iran
Rustam Finds his Marvellous Horse Rustam Seeks for a King
The Noble Kay Kobad
THE FOOLISH KING KAY KAVUS
The White Demon of Mazanderan
Zal Hears the News
THE SEVEN TRIALS OF RUSTAM
Rustam's First Trial Rustam's Second Trial
Rustam's Third Trial
Rustam's Fourth Trial Rustam's Fifth Trial
Rustam's Sixth Trial Rustam Finds the King
Rustam's Seventh Trial Ulad Wins his Kingdom
KAY KAVUS THE FOOLISH
Rebellion in Barbary The King of Hamaveran's Daughter
The King of Hamaveran Takes his Revenge
Kay Kavus Flies with the Eagles
THE STORY OF RUSTAM AND SOHRAB
Rustam Loses Rakhsh The King of Samagan's Daughter
Tahmineh The Birth of Sohrab
Afrasyab Plots and Plans Sohrab and the White Fortress
Gordafarid, the Warrior Girl
RUSTAM IS SUMMONED
King Kavus Sends for Rustam The Anger of Kay Kavus
Kay Kavus and Rustam March to War
Rustam Spies on Sohrab Sohrab Looks for Rustam
THE BATTLE OF SOHRAB AND RUSTAM
Sohrab Makes his Challenge
The First Battle Between Sohrab and Rustam
Sohrab and Rustam Return to their Camps
Sohrab Throws Rustam to the Ground
The Final Battle The Grief of Rustam
The Death of Rustam