Description
Book SynopsisThe adventures of Samak, a trickster-warrior hero of Persia’s thousand-year-old oral storytelling tradition, are beloved in Iran. Translated from the original Persian by Freydoon Rassouli and adapted by
Prince of Persia creator Jordan Mechner, this timeless masterwork can now be enjoyed by English-speaking readers.
Trade ReviewThis ancient Persian tale of adventure and romance comes to marvelous life in Jordan Mechner’s fluent, fast-paced rendering of Freydoon Rassouli’s modern translation. Epic in its sweep and human passions, it conjures a captivating world of warriors, princesses, renegades, viziers and witches. A treasure of world literature to place beside
Gilgamesh,
The Odyssey and the
Thousand and One Nights. -- Eric Jager, author of
The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval FranceThis medieval Persian romance which enjoys enormous popularity in the Persian-speaking world is translated in a very attractive way, following the Persian technique of storytelling. Conveying the spirit of the original, Mechner and Rassouli are an exceptional match to carry out this difficult task.
Samak the Ayyar will attract a broad readership with different cultural backgrounds. -- Asghar Seyed-Gohrab, author of
Courtly Riddles: Enigmatic Embellishments in Early Persian Poetry[F]ast-paced, exciting narratives which retain the interest of the readers and make them wish for more . . . highly recommended. * Asian Review of Books *
The text while being very simple and close to spoken language is of particular interest due to the large number of rare and archaic Persian words. * Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies *
The first major English-language rendering of these tales,
Samak reveals a charmed world fit for a blockbuster HBO series, but more than that, it shows a sweep of heroism, betrayal, and friendship worthy of
Gilgamesh or the
Odyssey. -- Kevin Blankinship * Los Angeles Review of Books *
Table of ContentsIntroduction
Part ISection 1: The Princess of Chin1. The Sun Prince
2. The Mystery of the Ring
3. The Witch Nurse
4. A Minstrel Maiden
5. The Witch’s Dungeon
6. The Vizier’s Son
7. A Fatal Banquet
Section 2: The People’s Defenders 8. The Grave Robber
9. The Prince of Machin
10. Stone Alley
11. Surrendering the Princess
12. Refuge Among Warriors
13. A Clash of Champions
14. Samak and Atashak
15. The Truce
Section 3: Machin 16. An Impregnable Fortress
17. Reinforcements
18. In the Enemy’s City
19. The Brothers
20. Enemy Agents
21. Rescue from Torture
22. New Friends
Section 4: Falaki Fortress23. An Ocean of Warriors
24. Victory and Defeat
25. The Missing Princess
26. A Brave Envoy
27. The Wedding Thief
28. Sorkhvard’s Secret
29. Trail of a Lion
30. Massacre in a Canyon
31. Lovers Reunited
Part IISection 5: Zafron Plains32. King’s Bargain, Ayyars Dig
33. A Royal Marriage
34. Samak Fears for His Friends
35. Newlyweds Abducted
36. Battle of Princes
37. A Watchman’s Reward
38. Samak Is Captured
Section 6: Twelve Canyons39. An Ayyar’s Daughter
40. The Royal Ring
41. The Ayyars of Twelve Canyons
42. Rescued by Her Rival
43. A Clan Divided
44. A Double Rescue
45. An Army Ambushed
46. Wine for a Feast
47. A Locked Gate
48. Message from a Princess
Section 7: Guran Meadow49. An Ayyar’s Reward
50. A Life for a Life
51. In the Giant’s Lair
52. Death of a Prince
53. The Stone Warriors
54. A Plate of Halvah
55. Head of a Hero
To Be Continued
Guide to Kingdoms and Characters
