Read this when
Shahnameh (Book of Kings)
Grew up without your dad and still wonder if he'd recognize you? The Persian epic Shahnameh has the father–son tragedy that will wreck you.
Who it's for
The Rostam and Sohrab episode is a compact tragedy that lets readers grieve the father–son bond that never happened.
Feelings it meets
What it is
The Shahnameh is the Persian poet Ferdowsi's epic of Iran's kings and heroes, and its best-known episode tells the story of Rostam and Sohrab. While searching for his lost horse, the hero Rostam marries the princess Tahmineh of Samangan and leaves a token to identify any child they have; she bears a son, Sohrab, who grows up apart from his father.
Where to find it
Older translations (e.g., Helen Zimmern's 1883 prose 'The Epic of Kings' and the Warner brothers' verse translation) are public domain and free online (e.g., Internet Archive). Dick Davis's Penguin Cl.
Before you start
Heads up: A father mortally wounds his son.
Age: Ages 14+
Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet, “On Children”
