And the Sheikh Said

In this slim book the Afghan writer Rahnaward Zaryab offers short pieces he called dastayat, a word he coined by joining dastan (story) and hekayat (tale). Each one blends the modern short story with the voice of the old moral anecdote, keeping alive the cadence of traditional storytelling. Kings, poets, jesters and sheikhs pass through its pages with wit and quiet wisdom. Ideal for reading a little at a time. The text is in Persian (Farsi/Dari).

Author: Rahnaward Zaryab

Persian title: و شیخ گفت

Bought from a Kabul bookshop and hand-delivered — the recipient inspects it at the door before accepting. The edition and cover may differ from the photo.