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.
The Shahnameh is a fabulous collection of stories and myths from ancient Persia, written into an epic poem by the poet Firdousi in the 10th century.
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.'
