The definitive translation by Dick Davis of the great national epic of Iran—now newly revised and expanded to be the most complete English-language edition A Penguin Classic Dick Davis—“our pre-eminent translator from the Persian” (The Washington Post)—has revised and expanded his acclaimed translation of Ferdowsi’s masterpiece, adding more than 100 pages of newly translated text. Davis’s elegant combination of prose and verse allows the poetry of the Shahnameh to sing its own tales directly, interspersed sparingly with clearly marked explanations to ease along modern readers. Originally composed for the Samanid princes of Khorasan in the tenth century, the Shahnameh is among the greatest works of world literature. This prodigious narrative tells the story of pre-Islamic Persia, from the mythical creation of the world and the dawn of Persian civilization through the seventh-century Arab conquest. The stories of the Shahnameh are deeply embedded in Persian culture and beyond, as attested by their appearance in such works as The Kite Runner and the love poems of Rumi and Hafez. For more than sixty-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,500 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

A full text and translation, with commentary, of a prosimetric tale from the rich repertoire of Central and West Asian bards, the first to be published with ready access to recordings of both the prose narration and the sung verse.

"Transactions and publications of the Royal Historical Society" in each vol., ser. 4, v. 18-26.

The story of Mehrunnisa, the daughter of servents who became the an empresses of the Mughal empire.

A glimpse at the political situation in the Deccan which was marked by political conclusion and disintegration during the last two decades, it is necessary to follow the trend of events which was contributed to the evolution of the Adil Shahi Kingdom of Bijapur. The murder of Khwajah Imaduddin Mahmud Gawan, the savior of Bahmani dynasty and the architect of a grand empire on the 5th April 1481 A.D. struck a fatal blow to the Kingdom. Mahmud Gawan’s dying words “the death of an old man is of little moment, but to your Majesty Sultan Muhammad Shah-III it will mean the loss of your character and the ruin of your Empire”, proved to be prophetic. Within a decade, the vast empire of the splendid edifice of the Bahmani dynasty presented a chequered scene. His death removed a dominating personality and let loose the forces of disintegration. It signaled the beginning of the decline and fall of the mighty empire

Page-turning mystery, grandly seductive romance and full historical immersion into Moroccan court history, this exquisitely depicted and intensely absorbing novel follows in the bestselling tradition of The Tenth Gift and The Salt Road. 1677, Morocco. Behind the magnificent walls and towering arches of the Palace of Meknes, captive chieftain's son and now a lowly scribe, Nus Nus is framed for murder. As he attempts to evade punishment for the bloody crime, Nus Nus finds himself trapped in a vicious plot, caught between the three most powerful figures in the court: the cruel and arbitrary sultan, Moulay Ismail, one of the most tyrannical rulers in history; his monstrous wife Zidana, famed for her use of poison and black magic; and the conniving Grand Vizier. Meanwhile, a young Englishwoman named Alys Swann has been taken prisoner by Barbary corsairs and brought to the court. She faces a simple choice: renounce her faith and join the Sultan's harem; or die. As they battle for survival, Alys and Nus Nus find themselves thrust into an unlikely alliance--an alliance that will become a deep and moving relationship in which these two outsiders will find sustenance and courage in the most perilous of circumstances. From the danger and majesty of Meknes to the stinking streets of London and the decadent court of Charles II, The Sultan's Wife brings to life some of the most remarkable characters of history through a captivating tale of intrigue, loyalty and desire.