The Knight, the Princess, and the Magic Rock: A Classic Persian Tale

by Sara Azizi (Retold by), Alireza Sadeghian (Illustrator)

Overview

The Knight, the Princess & the Magic Rock beautifully brings to life the enchanting story of Bijan, a brave young knight from the ancient land of Persia, and his star-crossed lover, Manijeh, princess of an enemy kingdom. Originally written over a thousand years ago, the story has been rendered into films, operas, and plays. Rich in symbolism, and filled with acts of heroism, secret potions, and the king’s all-knowing golden cup, the tale will delight children everywhere.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781937786014
Publisher:	Wisdom Tales
Publication date:	07/16/2012
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.50(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.45(d)
Lexile:	NC870L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Sara Azizi is a writer and storyteller who has wide-ranging interests in the arts in general and traditional Persian literature in particular. A native of Iran, she has lived and studied in Potsdam, New York, and Toronto. The Knight, the Princess, and the Magic Rock is her first book to be published in the US. Alireza Sadeghian is a professional painter and freelance illustrator. In addition to his design and illustration work, he has also taught art in his native Iran. He holds a degree in the preservation and restoration of historic sites and monuments, and lives in Isfahan, Iran with his wife and two children.

Editorial Reviews

The romance of Bijan and Manijeh is found in the Book of Kings (Shahnameh), the national epic poem of Iran. Bijan, a warrior prince, is asked by the king to rid the country of wild boars, which he successfully does. On his way back from his mission, he meets and falls in love with Manijeh, a princess of an enemy kingdom. Rather than be parted from him, Manijeh tricks Bijan into drinking a potion that keeps him with Manijeh. When he is inevitably discovered, he is imprisoned in an underground pit, covered by a magic rock. The knight Rostam eventually rescues him, and the wiser, chastened lovers live happily ever after. Azizi’s retelling of this major Persian tale emphasizes its mythopoeic themes; Sadeghian’s gorgeous color illustrations bring to vivid life both the tale and classical Persian art. Supplemental interpretive commentary gives more mature readers food for spiritual thought. Ages 4-8. (June 30)

Publishers Weekly

The Knight, the Princess & the Magic Rock is an easily read and enjoyable story with beautiful illustrations in the style of an ancient ethnic tale.

Foreword Reviews

The Knight, the Princess & the Magic Rock: A Classic Persian Tale provides a very easy reader that needs no advanced reading skills to prove accessible, and retells the classic Personal story of a brave young knight called Bijan who falls in love with the daughter of an enemy of Persia. Their romance will endanger their lives in this fine tale, illustrated by Alireza Sadgehian and packed with color. Kids who enjoy folktales from other countries will find a winner, here!

Midwest Book Review

The Knight, the Princess & the Magic Rock is an easily read and enjoyable story with beautiful illustrations in the style of an ancient ethnic tale.

ForeWord Reviews

Gr 3–5—Adapted from a long-ago Sufi commentary, this romantic story represents the Persian epic known as the Shanameh, or "Book of Kings." Here a grandfather is the narrator, telling the story of Bijan and Manijeh, the son and daughter of enemy kings, to a small girl and boy. Bijan is first sent to aid far-off farmers whose farms are being destroyed by wild boars. His mission quickly accomplished, he is immediately distracted by beautiful princess Manijeh. Their secret romance is soon discovered, and Bijan is imprisoned in an underground pit sealed with "a magic rock that no one could lift." Banished from the palace, Manijeh searches for him and eventually finds the pit but cannot move the rock. Though the text is wooden as read-aloud fare, the sketchy telling seems to fit the voice of a grandfather. The young children, who are flatly drawn, listeners suggest a far younger audience than would likely follow the story. Prayer, along with considerable coincidence, eventually leads the king's brave knight Rostam to reunite the lovers. The book is reminiscent of old elegant manuscripts with deep-hued colors, generous use of white space and folk motifs, and calligraphic-style letters used for the first word on each page and for all names of characters. Humans and animals are simple and stiff, but smaller circular views swirling on many pages contrast nicely with full-page scenes. The author closes with a page of somewhat confusing interpretation of the story as a possible religious parable. The simplistic telling of the story, though clumsy at times, might interest folktale readers and some storytellers.—Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston

School Library Journal

Adapting a tale from a national epic such as the Persian Shanameh, or "Book of Kings," is a task that takes great artistry. This effort doesn't quite make the grade. Using an unnecessary frame story, the tale follows the original without the traditional flowery embellishments and can be easily understood. Bijan, a knight, is sent by the Persian king to rid a far-off region of wild boars. During his return, he meets the princess of a neighboring kingdom, Manijeh, but he does not know that she is his enemy's daughter. She daringly brings Bijan into her father's fortress, but the lovers are found out. Bijan is thrown into a pit and covered by a magic rock, and the princess is exiled. She eventually finds the pit and feeds the knight through a hole; the rock is immovable. The Persian king realizes that Bijan is not returning and uses his magical golden cup to see Bijan's plight. He sends Rostam, "the bravest of all knights" to rescue him. Rostam, Bijan and Manijeh return to Persia, and the lovers marry. The paintings, almost too intense in color, are awkwardly rendered and lack the subtle patterned juxtapositions of the Persian miniatures that the artist is trying to imitate. The background note is useful, but the "Interpreting the Story" note will be heavy going for most adults, let alone children, not versed in Persian symbolism. A worthy but not entirely successful attempt to bring the past's wisdom to a new audience. (Folktale. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews