Includes bibliographical references (p. [239]-242) and indexes.

Preliminary Material / A.V. Williams -- Chapter One. Introduction / A.V. Williams -- Chapter Two. The Narrative Of Journey: Synopsis And Structure (Illustrations) / A.V. Williams -- Chapter Three. Transcription And Translation / A.V. Williams -- Chapter Four. Commentary / A.V. Williams -- Chapter Five. A Mirror Or A Clock? Considering History And The Myth-Story / A.V. Williams -- Chapter Six. Conclusion / A.V. Williams -- Appendix. The Sixteen Sanskrit Slokas Of Aka Adhyaru / A.V. Williams -- Bibliography / A.V. Williams -- General Index / A.V. Williams -- Index Of Modern Authors / A.V. Williams -- Index Of Proper Names And Technical Terms In The Translated Text Of The Qs / A.V. Williams.

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The Qesse-ye Sanjān is the sole surviving account of the emigration of Zoroastrians from Iran to India to form the Parsi (‘Persian’) community. Written in Persian couplets in India in 1599 by a Zoroastrian priest, it is a work many know of, but few have actually read, let alone studied in depth. This book provides a romanised transcription from the oldest manuscripts, an elegant metrical translation, detailed commentary and, most importantly, a radical new theory of how such a text should be “read”, id est not as a historical chronical but as a charter of Zoroastrian identity, foundation myth and justification of the Parsi presence in India. The book fills a lacuna that has been acutely felt for a long time.

Text in English and Persian (romanized).