shahnameh, the Persian Book of Kings

I've always loved the stories from the Shahnameh, ever since I discovered them in a dusty old children's encyclopedia when I was a little girl, and I've never understood why they are not better known in the west.

Who could resist the giant bird who brings up a special white-haired boy in her mountain nest? Or the wicked king, who has snakes growing out of his shoulders? Or the wonderful hero Rustam, who knocks out a raging elephant with one blow of his mace when he is only ten years old?

There are many fabulous characters in Shahnameh: a rebellious blacksmith, a brave warrior girl, beautiful princesses, proud kings, horrible demons, and super heroes of gigantic strength and courage.

Shirin Adl has painted the most beautiful illustrations to go with the text. She's picked out the colours and ideas from some of the world famous manuscripts of the past, and put them into her own funny, clever, and original pictures. They glow like jewels.