Rostam: Tales of Love and War from the Shahnameh (Penguin Classics)

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The selected adventures of Persia's Hercules, from Iran's great national epic No understanding of world mythology is complete without acquaintance with Rostam, Iran's most celebrated mythological hero. According to the Shahnameh (the tenth-century Book of Kings), this titan, magnificent in strength and courage, bestrode Persia for 500 years. While he often served fickle kings-undergoing many trials of combat, cunning, and endurance-he was never their servant and owed allegiance only to his nation's greater good. Anyone interested in folklore, world literature, or Iranian culture will find Rostam both a rousing and illuminating read.

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Abolqasem Ferdowsi (940 ce-1020 ce) devoted most of his adult life to composing the Shahnameh for the Samanid princes of Khorasan. He died in poverty. Dick Davis is professor of Persian at Ohio State University. He lives in Columbus, Ohio.