Shāhnāmah bih nasr: bī gazand az bād va bārān Persian 2019

“Shahnameh in Prose” is a complete and accessible prose retelling of the timeless masterpiece by Hakim Abol-Qasem Ferdowsi, written by Kaveh Goharin. As one of the greatest epics of the Persian language, the Shahnameh holds a unique position in Iranian culture and literature through its legendary, heroic, and historical narratives. However, its poetic structure and classical language can sometimes be challenging for modern readers, especially younger audiences or those less familiar with classical Persian poetry.

In this work, Kaveh Goharin draws on various scholarly editions of the Shahnameh to transform its stories into fluent and accessible prose. This adaptation creates a bridge between contemporary Persian and the grandeur of Ferdowsi’s language from the fifth century. The stories are presented without omission or excessive simplification, allowing readers to follow the complete narratives and fully experience the epic atmosphere of Ferdowsi’s work.

One of the notable features of this book is the inclusion of explanations of characters’ names and geographical locations in footnotes, helping readers better understand the historical and mythical context of the stories. “Shahnameh in Prose” is an effort to bring one of Iran’s greatest literary treasures closer to today’s readers and provide easier access to the world of heroes, myths, and enduring tales created by Ferdowsi.

Kaveh Goharin is an Iranian writer, poet, and literary researcher whose works include numerous studies, critiques, and articles on Persian literature. He has been active in poetry, fiction, and literary studies, and his writings have appeared in various literary and cultural publications.

Kaveh Goharin:
The splendor of the Shahnameh lies so profoundly in its poetic form that if it were transformed into simple prose, little would remain except lifeless words and expressions. Therefore, in narrating the Shahnameh in prose, I sought, as far as my abilities allowed, to return to the prose style of the fifth and sixth centuries AH, combining the language of that era with contemporary Persian and drawing inspiration from the language of modern poets, in order to create a new style for retelling the Shahnameh. The result is now placed before the discerning reader, whose judgment remains the final measure. I shall refrain from presenting examples to prove this claim, lest this preface become unnecessarily lengthy.

I should also mention that the verses from the Shahnameh included in this prose narration are based on my own textual revision and orthographic choices, rather than on any single manuscript or printed edition of the Shahnameh. The same applies to the way certain proper names are written: I have attempted to present their original Persian forms while also including the commonly used versions alongside them.

At this point, I must acknowledge that completing this immense undertaking would not have been possible without the support of culturally devoted friends such as Babak Rais-Danai, Farid Moradi, and Asghar Mahdizadegan, who patiently endured my occasional inquiries and investigations. I am also grateful for the efforts of my fellow Shahnameh scholar Maziar Irani, who read this work word by word without hesitation and generously offered constructive suggestions from which I benefited greatly.

May this work prove valuable to admirers of Iranian culture and lovers of the Shahnameh.