The Glory of the Shia World: The Tale of a Pilgrimage (Forgotten Books) Book

Book Description: "This is a slightly fictionalized account of life in Persia (Iran) in the 19th century, capped off by a perilous pilgrimage to the Shiite holy city of Meshed (Mashhad), in the foothills of the mountains that run up to the Zoroastrian Olympus, Damavand. The book is a rare collaboration between a turn of the 20th century English and Persian author. The narrative method presages the classic Oscar Lewis ethnographies of poor Mexican families. In both cases, a straightforward account would have been dangerous because of the repressive nature of the society being studied. This is, on one level, an orientalist conceit of an Englishman writing the life story of a (semi-fictional) Persian from the point of view of a Persian. However, Sykes manages to pull off this literary feat convincingly, even for readers at this later date. He also uses the opportunity as a perfect Swiftian setup to gently satire European civilization, which adds an entire ironic layer to the read.This long-out-of-print (and quite rare) book is a delightful read, particularly for connoisseurs of travelogues. The Shiite, Sufi, Islamic, and Persian lore and legends which are described here will be of great interest to folklorists. The photographs and other illustrations will be of use to graphic designers, anthropologists and historians. This is obviously a primary source on the architecture of the Mashhad pilgrimage site. Largely unknown to outsiders, this complex has some very spectacular (and gorgeous) structures. Most of all, this book is an eye-opener for westerners interested in the deep culture and history of Iran. " (Quote from sacred-texts.com)Table of Contents: Publisher's Preface; Prefatory Note; Prologue; My Parentage And Birth; A Campaign In Baluchistan; A Persian Entertainment; An Awful Tragedy; My Betrothal And Marriage; Kerman, The Heart Of The World; The Death Of Mirza Hasan Khan, Mustaufi; My First Mamuriat; The Persian New Year; The Pilgrimage Is Vowed; Yezd, The Prison Of Alexander; Robbed In The Lut; The Arrival At The Sacred Threshold; The Sacred Shrine Of The Imam Riza; The Pilgrimage Is Accepted; EpilogueAbout the Publisher: Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, Esoteric and Mythology. www.forgottenbooks.orgForgotten Books is about sharing information, not about making money. All books are priced at wholesale prices. We are also the only publisher we know of to print in large sans-serif font, which is proven to make the text easier to read and put less strain on your eyes.Read More