The Knight, the Princess & the Magic Rock

Long ago in the land of Persia, there lived the brave young knight, Bijan (Bee-JAHN). While on a mission for his noble king to save some poor farmers, he falls in love with the beautiful princess Manijeh (Mah-NEE-jeh), daughter of the neighboring king, who is an enemy of Persia! Soon, their secret love is discovered, and Bijan is imprisoned in a deep pit with a magic rock covering the entrance. The sad princess feels that her beloved knight is lost forever. In desperation, the King of Persia asks a famous warrior, the legendary Rostam, to risk his life and try to rescue Bijan from the enemy.

Rich in symbolism and filled with heroism, secret potions, and the king's all-knowing golden cup, this famous Persian tale, which has been rendered into films, operas, and plays, is now brought to life for a new generation of children in this wonderfully illustrated book.

The story of Bijan and Manijeh is originally found in the legendary "Book of Kings" (Shahnameh), written over a thousand years ago, and tells the story of the mystical past of ancient Persia.

Sara Azizi is a writer and storyteller who has wide-ranging interests in the arts in general and traditional Persian literature in particular. A native of Iran, she has lived and studied in Potsdam, New York, and Toronto. The Knight, the Princess, and the Magic Rock is her first book to be published in the US.