|
Children who've been told of the diamond's legendary hardness may question the ease with which this one is shattered. A king, accustomed to dwelling in a light-filled room where a large diamond creates a million rainbows, is bereft when it's stolen and smashed, and thereafter takes his only pleasure in staring at the fragments, away from the subjects who need him. An apprentice weaver comes up with the idea of making a magnificent carpet that will lure the king back to his duties. It works. But, unfortunately, neither the words nor the art here convincingly suggests the lure of the diamond's prismatic play or the carpet's intricate patterns. Readers will have to take these on faith. Still, Ewart's illustrations are prettily evocative of old Persia, and perhaps the tale will pique interest in this ancient art form ... GO TO BOOK
In this insightful study of Iranian cultural history and national identity, Shahrokh Meskoob, one of Iran's leading intellectuals, reviews the roles of three social classes, the courtiers and bureaucratic officials (ahl-e divan), the religious scholars (ulama), and the Muslim Gnostics (Sufi poets and writers), in the development and refinement of the Persian language during the past one thousand years and gives the reader a fresh perspective on Iranian cultural heritage and the struggle to forge a distinct national identity. Dr. Ali Banuazizi's foreword and interview with the author sets the stage for a fuller appreciation of this invaluable and wide-ranging contribution to Iranian intellectual history ... GO TO BOOK
For centuries Hafiz has been called, "The Tongue of the Invisible." Through his sublime works he continues to sing beautiful and wild love songs ... GO TO BOOK
"Qajar Iran is a must read for anyone interested in contemporary Iranian history." -- Fathali Qahremani Qajar ... GO TO BOOK
"This detailed guide finally updates the old guidebook with new
information. A must for travelers to Iran. Paul Greenway's narrative and
explanations are also more interesting (and quite funny in some cases)
than David St. Vincent's older edition." -- A reader ...
|
THE IRANIAN New! |