Gülüşün Gizi

The Secret of Laughter consists of stories that emerged from the culture and fairy tales of the Iranian people. It tells about love and longing, fate and rejection, waste and grace. Many of the stories, some inspired by classical Iranian literature, come from tales that have been passed down through generations. The real source of these tales has long been lost in the depths of the past.

These tales, told by master narrators in bazaars and cafes, attracted the attention of the whole world thanks to the world-famous poets Rumi and Firdevsi. Among them, there are princes and princesses, dervishes and saints with extraordinary powers, demons and giants, fire-breathing dragons and winged horses, sorcerers and magicians, orphans and heroes.

Unlike Western literature such as Homer, Ovid, and Shakespeare, whose heroes' fates are determined by capricious gods, in these Persian tales the "end" depends on mortal heroes aided by supernatural beings.

These heartfelt narratives reflect the psychological and social approach of Iranian society towards morality and values. With her unique language and subtle sense of humor, Shusha Guppy brings these tales suitable for all ages to a wide audience.

"You see, if it weren't for his greed, the shop owner would have had half the treasure, which would have been more than enough to make his dreams come true. When he didn't do this, he lost all of the treasure, and while he spent his life in his little shop in his village, Har-kan and his wife went on a pilgrimage to Mecca and became pilgrims. "