Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. CONTENTS vii
3. PREFACE ix
4. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xv
5. INTRODUCTION 1
6. 1. THE PERSIAN EPIC 35
7. 2. FERDOWSI THE POET 63
8. 3. THE BOOK OF KINGS 93
9. 4. EPICS AND EMPIRES 139
10. 5. EMPIRES FALL, NATIONS RISE 159
11. CONCLUSION 189
12. NOTES 229
13. INDEX 241