Persia: Bridge of Turquoise

For me Persia is a symbolic bridge of great beauty-a Bridge of Turquoise.' Roloff Beny first reached the borders of Persia fourteen years ago while in search of noble and sacred cities for his book Pleasure of Ruins. In this volume he opens the gate to share his haunting experiences with this land and its people. Orchestrated into four books-LIGHT, LIFE, THE SACRED PLACE and DOMAIN OF KINGS-Persia-Bridge of Turquoise presents lyrical photographs that transcend time and place, integrating the flow of Persian culture. With grace and sensitivity, the renowned artist and photographer leads us into a Persian garden veiled by rose lace curtains, beneath an azure dome inscribed with the message of Allah, up the volcanic cone of Mount Damavand eternally encrusted with snow, and to the desert sparkling with frost at dawn. We leaf through the drama of the seasons-the crystal winter, the tender spring, the long summer, the burnished autumn-and encounter the living treasures of Persia: the people, winding their way through mudbrick village lanes, gathering in crowded bazaars, picnicking along mountain streams, and congregating for prayer in tiled mosques. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, a leading Persian scholar, distills the essence of his country's culture in an essay and anthology which trace the literary and spiritual development of Persian history. Prose and poetry, selected from Persian literature and transcreated into English by gifted scholars and poets, harmonize with magnificent images of the land, the people and its artistic and cultural treasures. Art historical notes by Mitchell Crites provide a solid background for the plates, as well as vivid personal reminiscences. Illustrated with 228 colour plates, 39 duotones and 12 line engravings, the volume is further enriched with decorative calligraphy crafted by traditional masters. ISBN 0500240973

Text: English, Persian