Shahrokh Meskoob was one of Iran's leading intellectuals and a preeminent scholar of Persian literary traditions, language, and cultural identity. In The Ant's Gift, Meskoob applies his insight and considerable analytical skills to the Shahnameh, the national epic of Iran completed in 1010 by the poet Abul-Qâsem Ferdowsi. Tracing Iran's history from its first mythical king to the fall of the Sasanian dynasty, the Shahnameh includes myths, romance, history, and political theory. Meskoob sheds new light on this seminal work of Persian culture, identifying the story as at once a historical and poetic work. While previous criticism of the Shahnameh has focused on its linguistic importance and its role in Iranian nationalism, Meskoob draws attention to the work's pre-Islamic cultural origins.
| ISBN: | 9780815637080 |
| Publication date: | 30th July 2021 |
| Author: | Shahrukh Miskub |
| Publisher: | Syracuse University Press |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 248 pages |
| Series: | Middle East Literature in Translation |
| Genres: |
Literary companions, book reviews and guides Social groups: religious groups and communities Literary studies: general Middle Eastern history |