History of Iranian Literature Before Islam

History of Iranian Literature Before Islam is a work by Dr. Ahmad Tafazzoli, published by his long-time colleague Dr. Zhaleh Amuzgar, that fills a fundamental gap in Persian language resources. Now, alongside other related sources, researchers can thoroughly follow the progression of Iranian literature from its beginnings to the end of the Safavid era. There is no comprehensive work in European languages on pre-Islamic Iranian literature, and this book stands as the first thorough and pioneering work covering all cultural aspects of Iran’s history. After a brief introduction, the comprehensive book starts with Old Persian inscriptions, then covers Avestan literature, several Parthian inscriptions, and finally Middle Persian writings and Zoroastrian Pahlavi texts. In a separate chapter, the author compiles Manichean poetry and prose from Parthian, Middle Persian, and Sogdian languages. The main strength of the book lies in the chapters about Middle Persian and Zoroastrian Pahlavi works, which are Dr. Tafazzoli’s primary field of expertise. He categorizes diverse Pahlavi texts by genre or topic, and the book includes inscriptions and works written on parchment and papyrus, as well as those engraved on tombstones, seals, metals, and coins. Dr. Tafazzoli often provides lists of content for each book or article, or summaries, sometimes including examples, making “History of Iranian Literature Before Islam” a valuable and educational work. The description of Pahlavi and other Middle Iranian languages’ works offers the most comprehensive synopsis of these texts in a single volume, encompassing all recent findings in this field.