Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings (Penguin Classics) Paperback – Illustrated, March 8, 2016

I love it; very well written and it has details too

The Shahnameh is an amazingly text of massive scope. It begins in legendary prehistory and continues to the Arab Conquest of Iran. Along the way you will meet complex, compelling characters who are often locked against each other in a tragic trajectory. Despite its didactic elements, the Shahmaneh offers plenty of moral ambiguity and elicits sympathy for both rising heroes and those whose stars have started to wane. The text is primarily concerned with masculine spheres, but it still features powerful and complex women from queens, to advisors, to assertive lovers, to warriors on the battlefield. The Shahmaneh also highlights the vast cultural diversity of Greater Iran.While I do not read Farsi myself, all my friends who do assure me that Davis’ is the English translation to go with, and I can vouch that it is a joy to read. Whether you are interested in pre-modern literature, the cultural heritage of Greater Iran, or just enjoy a good read, I can not recommend this highly enough.

Most amazing part of Ferdosi book of king is that it revived and preserved the original Persian Pahlavi language that although written over 1000 years ago it is the sam's as the Farsi spoken in Iran today. Second was to bring back the Persian pride and nationalistic vigor to Iranian at the time being rulled by the Arabs that has survived to this day ....Also in my opinion, the author done an excellent job in translation to the English some resemblance of the original poetry of Ferdosi which total amazing.. I highly recommend it to all...

...what's not to love? at nearly 1000 pages, and having finished it a couple weeks ago, I'm looking forward to returning to this work. I like some stories better than others, but on the whole it's quite the feast. and while almost every sunrise was described artfully, I don't think one was described the same... Ferdowsi is a master of language and is legendary for good reason, and Dick Davis has rendered it so enjoyably with this expanded translation.

this is an expanded edition of Davis's earlier excellent translation. more of quite a very good thing. it is a delight to read and invites total immersion in this historical and literary world. as a general reader i was entranced by Ferdowsi's universe and Davis's language. this work elucidates the history of the entire vast region and period in a way which provides great pleasure in the work itself, admiration for its ethical and aesthetic universe, and better understanding of today's shifting alliances and dreadful conflicts (as well as circumstances in our own parlous times and characters in our own deplorable politics.) Davis's fine introduction mentions that it was impossible to include the entire work in this edition and, pressed by this stricture, the decision to leave out some of the moral minutiae (as being of less interest to contemporary readers.) certainly we could all benefit today from contemplation of moral teachings and from access to more of Ferdowsi's compelling work in Davis's felicitous and seemingly transparent translation.

Ferdowsi says it took him Thirty years to write Shahnameh , Davis does a great job in translation of this massive book of ancient Persian history !! I strongly suggest this book to anyone who is interested .

I love the way the translator was able to maintain a poetic feeling and an epic scale throughout a long and complex set of stories and characters. Mythic in a wonderful way.

The cover was definitely not in a good condition. However, the pages are fine.