'Sela's well-argued and concise study of a group of Persian and Turkic heroic stories devoted to the life of Amir Timur, or Tamerlane, brings to our attention a large body of literature that has until now been generally ignored or discounted by previous scholars of Central Asian history … historians of modern Central Asia would do well to apply to their own works Sela's emphasis on manuscript sources, his imaginative use of popular literature, and his critical approach to much current scholarship. A book which we have revealed to you (Muhammad) so that you may lead the people from out of the darknesses into the light by their Lord's leave to the path of the All-Mighty, the Praiseworthy.' Quran 14:1 The Holy Quran. Source: Journal of the American Oriental Society ![]() In all these ways Sela’s work is a service to the scholarly community.' Finally, the monograph gives us compelling evidence for the existence of a Tīmūrmania in Central Asia, long before we knew one existed, which continues to this day with fascinating ramifications. His work suggests new approaches to the history of a neglected period. ![]() He brings a relatively unknown body of fascinating material to our attention, and provides extensive translations of parts of this material, which give us an excellent view of what exists, helping us determine how to move forward. ![]() ![]() 'Sela’s book is a clear contribution to scholarship.
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