Volume One of A Literary History of Persia covers the period from the earliest periods of Persian history until Firdawsi (AD 9351020) a highly revered poet.A Literary History of Persia remains a classic work in English on the subject. Spanning four volumes it concentrates on Persian literature, but it also surveys many aspects of Persian culture from pre-history to the twentieth century. Volume one covers the period from the earliest periods of Persian history until Firdawsi (AD 9351020) a highly revered poet.A Literary History of Persia remains a classic work in English on the subject. Spanning four volumes it concentrates on Persian literature, but it also surveys many aspects of Persian culture from pre-history to the twentieth century. Volume one covers the period from the earliest periods of Persian history until Firdawsi (AD 9351020) a highly revered poet.Nearly a hundred years since its publication, E. G. Browne's A Literary History of Persia remains a classic work in English on the subject. Spanning four volumes, it took Browne over 25 years to write and whilst it concentrates on Persian literature, it surveys many aspects of Persian culture from pre-history to the twentieth century. Volume one covers the period from the earliest periods of Persian history until Firdawsi (AD 9351020) a highly revered poet. Volume two looks at the early medieval period and in particular on the poet Saadi (11841283). Volume three focuses on the Tartar Dominion (12651502) and volume four 'Modern Times' covers from 1500 to 1924. A remarkable achievement upon first publication, Cambridge University Press is pleased to be able to bring its edition of this seminal work back into print.Part I. On the Origins and General History of the People, Languages, and Literatures of Persia: 1. Introduction; 2. The discovery and interpretation of the inscriptions and documents of Ancient Persia, with other philological matter; 3. The pre-Muhammadan literature of the Persians, with some alc,