The Secret of Laughter: Magical Tales from Classical Persia - Couverture souple

'Providing entertaining reading, the stories also aim at transmitting a sort of moral and sentimental education that both upholds traditional values and celebrates a romantic notion of love conquers all in a[n]...optimistic and heart-warming tone.' --Kinga Márkus-Takeshita, Asian Folklore Studies

'Shusha Guppy, who died earlier this year, was a gifted storyteller...When she began her career as a singer in 1971 with an album of traditional Persian music, she seduced her listeners with her style. THE SECRET OF LAUGHTER does the same. It is a long time since I have enjoyed a book so much. I guarantee you the same pleasure...The best story of all is true: how Zahra, an orphan girl born on the shores of the Caspian sea, looked after Shusha as a child: 'Close your eyes so that sleep doesn't get into them'. But these aren't just for children. This is a book for everyone.' --Margaret Reynolds, The Times (2008)

'Somehow she puts you in touch with the ancient experience of a whole people...the real river of souls and physical ritual history which is the genius of Persia.' --Ted Hughes

This magical collection of stories, gathered from the rich treasury of Persian folk and fairytales, tells of love and longing, fate and human ingenuity, loss and grace. Although sources of these tales 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 these charmed narratives, they reflect deep cultural and psychological insights into the attitudes, values and structures which constitute Iranian society. In her own unique voice - with style, charm and humour - Shusha Guppy narrates these timeless fables of princes and princesses; dervishes and miracle-working saints; jinns and giants; flame-breathing dragons and winged horses; sorcerers and magicians.