TEHRAN The most comprehensive edition of Shahnameh (book of kings) will be presented to coincide with the 14th Tehran International Book Fair (May 8-18).

The new edition of Shahnameh which has been checked out by several earlier copies of the book, including the one printed in the Russian capital Moscow and the Italian city of Florence, benefits from reliable translations both in Arabic and English.

The latest edition also has detailed interpretations of all verses of the book as well as the origins of the words.

According to IRNA, the new Shahnameh which has been prepared by Mehri Behfar, to be forwarded by the Hirmand Publication, will be presented in 10 volumes.

The Shahnameh is a celebrated work of the 10th century Persian epic poet Abolqassem Ferdowsi, in which the Persian national epic found its final and enduring form.

The book, written for Sultan Mahmud of Ghazna (a king in Ferdowsi's era who ruled over parts of Persia), is a poem comprising of nearly 60,000 verses mainly based on another book written earlier about history of the kings of Persia (the former name for Iran).

The Shahnameh reviews the history from mythical times down to the 7th century.

Ferdowsi versified and updated the story right up to the downfall of the Sasanid Empire (mid-7th century).

For nearly 1,000 years, the book has remained one of the most popular works in the Persian-speaking world.

Meanwhile, 450 publishers, including 150 from Arab states, are to attend the 14th Tehran International Book Fair scheduled for May 8-18.

The UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, Switzerland, Canada, France, Pakistan, Italy, Lebanon, Egypt and Syria are among the participants in the book fair.

The American publishers would also be represented at the fair this year through the UK pavilion.