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Samak the Ayyar

A Tale of Ancient Persia
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Samak the Ayyar recounts the thrilling adventures of Samak, a cunning trickster-warrior from Persia's ancient storytelling tradition. As an ayyar, Samak exemplifies loyalty, honour, and selflessness, weaving through epic tales of palace intrigue, battlefield heroics, and a poignant romance between a noble prince and princess. Richly rooted in Persian culture and translated from the twelfth-century original, this saga offers a vivid glimpse into Persia a thousand years ago, blending supernatural forces with human drama.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$6699
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for readers interested in Persian culture, epic historical adventures, and classic tales of heroism comparable to those of Robin Hood or King Arthur. It will appeal to lovers of oral storytelling traditions and those fascinated by medieval and mythic romances.

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The 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.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The adventures of Samak, a trickster-warrior hero of Persia's thousand-year-old oral storytelling tradition, are beloved in Iran. Samak is an ayyar, a warrior who comes from the common people and embodies the ideals of loyalty, selflessness, and honour—a figure that recalls samurai, ronin, and knights yet is distinctive to Persian legend. His exploits—set against an epic background of palace intrigue, battlefield heroics, and star-crossed romance between a noble prince and princess—are as deeply rooted in Persian culture as are the stories of Robin Hood and King Arthur in the West. However, this majestic tale has remained little known outside 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. A thrilling and suspenseful saga, Samak the Ayyar also offers a vivid portrait of Persia a thousand years ago. Within an epic quest narrative teeming with action and supernatural forces, it sheds light on the lives of ordinary people and their social worlds. This is the first complete English-language version of a treasure of world culture. The translation is grounded in the twelfth-century Persian text while paying homage to the dynamic culture of storytelling from which it arose.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Praised as a treasure of world literature, this translation by Freydoon Rassouli and adaptation by Jordan Mechner has been celebrated for its fluent, fast-paced narrative and faithful capture of the spirit of the original. Eric Jager calls it a captivating world of warriors, princesses, and witches to stand alongside Gilgamesh and The Odyssey. Asghar Seyed-Gohrab highlights its broad appeal and skillful storytelling, while the Asian Review of Books recommends it highly for its exciting and absorbing narratives.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780231198790

Publisher: Columbia University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 August 2021

Country: United States

Imprint: Columbia University Press

Contributors:

  • Translated by Freydoon Rassouli
  • Translated by Jordan Mechner

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 464

Collections

Arts & Culture Non-Fiction

About the Author

Freydoon Rassouli is an artist, author, and translator whose books include Fusionart, Rumi Revealed, and The Book of Creativity. His artworks have been exhibited widely, and he painted two major street murals in Venice, California, and downtown Los Angeles.

Jordan Mechner is a New York Times best-selling author, screenwriter, graphic novelist, and game designer. He is the creator of Prince of Persia, one of the world’s most successful video game franchises, which he also adapted as a feature film. His books include the Eisner-nominated graphic novel Templar (2013).

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