The Secret of Laughter: Magical Tales from Classical Persia

This magical collection of stories, gathered from the rich treasury of Persian folk and fairytales, tell of love and longing, fate and human ingenuity, loss and grace. Although their sources have been lost over the ages, their memory runs through the collective psyche of the Iranian people. Handed down through generations, told by professional storytellers in bazaars and gatherings, these tales have been made popular the world over by great poets such as Rumi and Firdowsi. At the same time, beneath the charmed narrative, they reflect deep cultural and psychological insights into the attitudes, values and structures which constitute Iranian society. With style, charm and humor, Shusha Guppy narrates these timeless fables, which continue to fascinate all who read them and which also provide a unique perspective on Iranian culture.