Persian Classics

A collection of four traditional Persian tales: "The Cat and the Mouse," "The Son of the Soap Seller," "The King's Treasure," and "The King and the Fisherman." The stories embrace such topics as power struggles, the reward for kindness and loyalty, and the importance of religious piety and sacrifice.

The iconic love story of the Middle East, by a 12th-century Persian poet who has been compared to Shakespeare for his subtlety, inventiveness, and dramatic force, Layli and Majnun tells of star-crossed lovers whose union is tragically thwarted by their families and whose passion continues to ripple out across the centuries. Theirs is a love that lasts a lifetime, and in Nezami's immortal telling, erotic longing blends with spiritual self-denial in an allegory of Sufi aspiration, as the amenities of civilization give way to the elemental wilderness.

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. From Rabe'eh in the 10th century to Fatemeh Ekhtesari in the 21st, the women poets found in The Mirror of My Heart write across the millennium on such universal topics as marriage, children, political climate, death, and emancipation, recreating life from hundreds of years ago that is strikingly similar to our own today and giving insight into their experiences as women.

Though Nepos largely focused on the Greco-Romans in his writings, some men accomplished so much he was willing to break this rule. Datames was a commander of armies, man of the kings of Persia and Egypt, and outwitter of plots. Follow his intricate and exciting life as he attempts to outpace the powerful men around him.

White Nights is a short story by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, published in 1848, early in the writer’s career. The story tells about unfortunate young man who is lonely and shy. He strolls the streets of 1840s Saint Petersburg contemplating his solitude when he happens upon a young woman in tears.

Dostoevsky tells the story of a young tutor named Alexey Ivanovitch, who works in the household of an imperious Russian general. He wants to break through the wall of the established order in Russia. To reach this goal, he tries to achieve money and power by gambling. He descends further and further into a life of roulettes and casino living and sinks himself in the endless downward spiral of betting and loss. As he fails to resist the temptations of his addiction (the gambling), he finds himself engaged in unrequited love with Polina, the General's cruel yet seductive niece.