Burzu-nama

Firdawsi's (d. 411/1020) Shah-nama, this famous epic poem in celebration of the history of the kings and dynasties of Persia, was not written in a void. Indeed, before him there had been other epic works in Persian, more or less similar to it, by authors otherwise unknown, and now lost: by Mas?udi Marwazi (before 355/966), by Abu 'l-Mu?ayyad Balkhi (before 352/963), by Abu ?Ali Balkhi (before 390/1000), and the Shah-nama-yi Abu Mansuri (346/947). It has been said that Firdawsi may have taken some of his inspiration from this latter work. After Firdawsi, others wrote similar works, in imitation of him: Asadi Tusi's Garshasp-nama (completed in 458/1066) and Iranshah b. Abi 'l-Khayr's Bahman-nama (501/1107-08) are just two examples of this. The present work by Shams al-Din Kawsaj (8th/14th century) is another epic poem in Firdawsi's style. The add-on found in some manuscripts, by a later author of lesser talent, is not included here.