Persian Classics

From an award-winning historian, the definitive history of classical Greece and the rivalry between its two greatest cities. No period has more profoundly influenced the Western world than classical Greece, and at its center stood two cities: Athens and Sparta. Side by side, they beat the...

Kamran Esfahani, a dentist living out a dreary existence in Stockholm, agrees to spy for the Mossad after he’s recruited by Arik Glitzman, the chief of a clandestine unit tasked with running targeted assassinations and sabotage inside Iran. At Glitzman’s direction, Kam returns to his native Tehran and opens a dental practice there, using it as a cover for the Israeli intelligence agency. Kam proves to be a skillful asset, quietly earning money helping Glitzman smuggle weapons, run surveillance, and conduct kidnappings.

This masterful translation brings legendary heroes, tragic destinies, sweeping romances, colossal monsters, and fearless warriors vividly to life, unfolding a mythic saga that spans thousands of years. Originally composed as an 11th-century epic poem, Shahnameh endures as one of the world’s greatest masterpieces of mythology and storytelling. Performed by award-winning voice actor Marc Thompson and enriched with evocative sound design by Hamid Rahmanian, creator of the Shahnameh Project, this theatrical audiobook is truly cinema for the ear.

The Persians: A Translation from Aeschylus There is no drama where the total multiplicity of horror in defeat is more cogently presented than in the Persians by Aeschylus, who fought in the Athenian triumph at Salamis, where the Persian fleet was rammed and wrecked.

Prepare to be transported into the thunderous sweep of Persian history. This section of Shahnameh (Chapters 16-27 in Shahnameh: The Epic of the Persian Kings) moves from myth to history, chronicling the dramatic rise of the Sassanian dynasty and its eventual fall. Through masterful storytelling, the epic brings to life royal ambition, political intrigue, heroic resistance, and cultural transformation—culminating in the Arab conquest of Iran in the seventh century. Performed by award-winning voice actor Marc Thompson, this performative audiobook places you at the heart of the action.

Aeschylus’ historical tragedy Persians, with its dire warnings against the hubris of imperialist overreach, is as relevant today as it was when first presented to an Athenian audience in 472 BC. This new edition of the classic drama features a literal translation by Mark Will (translator of Fernando Pessoa’s Message) which reconstructs in contemporary English verse the epic cadences of the original Greek.

Seeking to depose his brother Artaxerxes and take his place upon the Persian throne, Cyrus the Younger leads the 10,000 mercenaries on a dangerous campaign deep into the heart of Persia. There, Cyrus is killed and his generals overthrown, leaving a young Xenophon to lead the army on its treacherous journey home. Snowy mountains, wide rivers, violent blizzards, and hostile tribes obstruct their way, testing Xenophon's leadership and his soldiers' perseverance to the extreme.

Savushun chronicles the life of a Persian family during the Allied occupation of Iran during World War II. It is set in Shiraz, a town which evokes images of Persepolis and pre-Islamic monuments, the great poets, the shrines, Sufis, and nomadic tribes within a historical web of the interests, privilege, and influence of foreign powers; corruption, incompetence, and arrogance of persons in authority; the paternalistic landowner-peasant relationship; tribalism; and the fear of famine.

Step into the world that shaped civilization. Ancient Greece: The Complete Story of Ancient Greek Civilization brings to life the rise, glory, and legacy of one of history’s most powerful and fascinating cultures. From the first settlements and legendary Bronze Age kingdoms to the sweeping conquests of Alexander the Great, this book delivers a vivid, fast-paced account of the Greek world like never before. Discover the drama of the Trojan War, the collapse of early civilizations, and the rebirth of Greece in the age of city-states. Experience the fierce rivalry between Athens and Sparta, ...

Ancient Classics User Guide is a comprehensive overview of the great works that have come down to us from antiquity. I have gathered the best sources and provided clear descriptions to allow readers to comfortably navigate these timeless cultural treasures. My approach to the Ancient Classics is to treat them as proven resources to enhance our understanding of Western history, philosophy and the arts. This book is designed to allow you to choose the books that match your interests, to follow the path of your own curiosity. The chapters are arranged in the order of the authors’ lives, ...

More than 2,500 years ago, a confederation of small Greek city-states defeated the invading armies of Persia, the most powerful empire in the world. In this meticulously researched study, historian Paul Rahe argues that Sparta was responsible for the initial establishment of the Hellenic defensive coalition and was, in fact, the most essential player in its ultimate victory.

Kamran Esfahani, a Persian Jewish dentist from Stockholm, dreams of starting afresh in California. To finance his new life, he agrees to spy for Mossad in Iran, working with a clandestine unit tasked with sowing chaos and sabotage inside the country. When he's captured by Iranian security forces, Kamran is compelled to confess his experiences as a spy, in a testimonial dealing not only with the security of nations, but also with revenge, deceit, and the power of love and forgiveness in a world of lies.

Spartans examines key elements of the image of Sparta presented in the film 300 and evaluates what those claims become when measured against the ancient sources. The film constructs an intense portrayal: a society defined by extreme training, unconditional courage, absolute honour, and presumed military superiority. This representation presents Sparta through a set of categorical assertions. The book selects specific claims shown in the cinematic narrative and asks: what do the ancient authors actually record about these same themes? Each chapter isolates a concrete assertion presented in ...

Master ancient Greek history with this comprehensive study guide designed specifically for college students. From the Bronze Age palaces of Mycenae to Alexander the Great's vast empire, this guide covers all essential periods of Greek civilization. Each chapter provides clear explanations, recent scholarship, and carefully organized information to help students succeed in their coursework. What You'll Learn: Bronze Age civilizations and the Greek Dark Age Rise of the polis and development of democracy Persian Wars and Classical Athens Philosophy, drama, and cultural achievements ...

Learn Persian will have you speaking with proper pronunciation from the very first lesson and arm you with cultural insight and other information to utterly surprise and amaze your Iranian friends.

An anthology of verse by women poets writing in Persian, most of whom have never been translated into English before, from acclaimed scholar and translator Dick Davis. The Mirror of My Heart is a unique and captivating collection of eighty-three Persian women poets, many of whom wrote...

Once, when young Nasruddin was acting up in class by distracting his classmates with endless antics, jests, and stories, his irate teacher uttered a curse: ''Whatever you do or say, wherever you go or stay, whether it's night or day - people will only laugh at you.'' Now, eight centuries later, people everywhere are still laughing at the immortal Mullah Nasruddin, one of the world's most beloved folk characters.

A Bouquet of Roses from the Gulistan of Shaykh Saʿdi offers readers a fresh and accessible doorway into one of the most beloved masterpieces of Persian literature. For more than seven centuries, Saʿdi’s Gulistan has been treasured for its moral clarity, lyrical beauty, and profound insight into the human condition. In this thoughtfully curated volume, Habib Siddiqui gathers some of Saʿdi’s most enduring teachings and arranges them into ten thematic chapters that speak directly to the ethical challenges of our time. Drawing on a lifetime of reading, reflection, and reverence for ...

You may have studied the ancient Persian Empire in school, but have you ever wondered what kinds of stories the ancient Persians told to themselves and their children? The roots of Persian myth extend back more than five thousand years to the culture of the Aryan people who migrated into Iran from India. Ideas from this ancient culture have enjoyed amazing longevity and are alive even today as part of the Zoroastrian faith, which is still practiced in Iran, India, and several other places around the world.

A riveting retelling of one of the great adventure stories of antiquity—when Greek philosopher-warrior Xenophon led a stranded band of the “Ten Thousand” mercenary soldiers on a treacherous escape from the Persians. 400 BC. The Persian prince Cyrus the Younger hires an army of Greek...