The book under review is C. E. Bosworth's translation and commentary for the Akhbār al-dawla al-saljūqiyya, a brief but important Arabic source on the history of the Seljuq Empire, attributed to Ṣadr al-Dīn al-Ḥusaynī. Interest in Seljuq studies as a whole has increased over the last decade with monographs by Peacock (Routledge, 2010), Basan (Routledge, 2010), and Lange (CUP, 2008; Edinburgh, 2011) being accompanied by translations of Arabic and Persian works by Balʿamī (Peacock, Routledge, 2007), Nīshāpūrī (Luther, Curzon, 2001), and Ibn al-Athīr (Richards, Routledge, 2002), all of which speak to the importance of this dynasty and time period (eleventh–twelfth centuries). Bosworth mentions in his preface that he views his translation of the Akhbār as a “logical supplement” to his recent translation and commentary for Gardīzī's Zayn al-Akhbār (I. B. Tauris, 2011), and calls for further study of the works of Rāwandī and al-Bundārī. One can only hope that scholars take up Bosworth's call and follow his and others' leads in rendering these important works more accessible to a wider academic audience.

At the start of this work Bosworth provides a brief (9 pp.) yet informative introduction to the Akhbār, outlining the major topics covered, its authorship, and the historiography associated with it. As for the present translation and commentary, Bosworth refers to two modern editions of the Akhbār, Muhammad Iqbal's of 1933 (helpfully noted as “I, #” in the text) and Muḥammad Nūr al-Dīn's more comprehensive 1986 edition (noted as “N, #” in the text), both of which were based on a unique manuscript held by the British Library (B.L. Suppl. 550). According to Bosworth, Russian (Bunyatov, 1980) and Turkish (Lugal, 1943) translations exist, as does one in English (Ayaz, 1985 unpublished PhD thesis). With regard to the authorship and dating of the text, Bosworth outlines the parameters of the debate to date, but concurs with Ayaz's conclusions that al-Ḥusaynī authored the work between the late sixth/twelfth and early seventh/thirteenth century, informed in part by his experience as an official for the Khwarazm Shahs. Bosworth also provides a brief discussion of al-Ḥusaynī's sources for his work (e.g. Malik-nāma, Iṣfahānī's Nuṣrat al-fatra and Ibn Funduq's Mashārib al-tajārib), stating that the final section of al-Ḥusaynī's chronicle – the most detailed portion – is the most original section, it being closer to the author's lifetime.

Bosworth's translation of the Akhbār (120 pp.), from its introductory statement referring to al-Ḥusaynī in the third person, to its concluding section summarizing the whole, is rendered clearly and with great scholarly care. As mentioned, Bosworth uses the sigla “I” (Iqbal, 1933) and “N” (Nūr al-Dīn, 1986) to note exactly where the respective page numbers of these editions fit into his translation; this is of great benefit to those wishing to compare these with the established editions quickly and efficiently. The section headings – assumed by Bosworth and others to be additions to the original text in the transcription process – are set off from the text of the translation in bold. When al-Ḥusaynī provides dates, either in full or in brief, Bosworth provides the corresponding Gregorian dates in brackets. With regard to the translation of specific terms, Bosworth uses a varied approach. For a small number of terms (e.g. ribāṭ, dihqān, khuṭba, rakʿas, mithqāl and mann) Bosworth provides no translation, assuming that the meanings of these terms are understood. For a larger number of specialized or otherwise problematic terms, however, Bosworth provides a transliterated rendering of the Arabic in parentheses following his translation. Examples include such basic terms as “slave-soldier (mamluk)” (p. 39) and “ceremonial tent (surādiq)” (p. 103), as well as more specialized terms like “parasol (chatr)” (p. 27) and “saddle-cloth (ghāshiya)” (passim). For some terms, however, such as ṣadāq and mahr, Bosworth uses the same translation (i.e. “bride price”), while in other instances he translates certain terms differently based upon the flow of the narrative. For awbash, Bosworth gives at least two separate meanings: “common people” (p. 15), and “the rabbles” (p. 36). This reviewer finds no problem with Bosworth's decisions in this regard, for in the end his goal is to provide a smooth and accurate translation of al-Ḥusaynī's work.

With regard to the narrative style, Bosworth follows the straightforward method al-Ḥusaynī employed in the original text. Arranged chronologically, the history charts the rise of the Seljuqs from their humble beginnings as tribesmen who made a name for themselves attached to the Ghaznavids, moves through to the height of their power during the reign of Mālik Shāh (d. 485/1092), and ends with Ṭoghrïl b. Arslān Shāh's death in 590/1194 at the hands of the Khwarazm Shah Sultan ʿAlā’ al-Dīn Tekish. Within the history we find detailed accounts of Alp Arslān's forays against the Byzantines leading up to the Battle of Manzikert in 463/1071, as well as fierce competition between the later Seljuqs and their Ildegizid and Khwarazm Shah rivals. Although al-Ḥusaynī slips into a more florid literary style at times and incorporates numerous idiomatic phrases in his work, Bosworth presents a smooth, accessible text while also providing a literal translation of the Arabic. For example, when discussing the rebellion of Faḍlūn of Ganga in 459/1067, Bosworth states “and Satan seduced led him astray” followed by the literal translation, “Satan breathed into his nostrils and erected barriers at the beginning and the end of his affairs” (pp. 33–4). Numerous other example of this simplification of al-Ḥusaynī's text can be found throughout Bosworth's work. In addition, when dealing with names where the vocalization has not been established, Bosworth leaves it up to the audience to decide; when referring to a locale near Khākistar, he writes “K. ʿ. r. b. n (?)” (p. 27). Bosworth's attention to detail, erudition, and scholarly acumen and humility are to be lauded here, for they have resulted in a masterful translation of a work essential to anyone interested in events surrounding the Seljuq dynasty.

In addition to three separate indexes (e.g. Persons, peoples, tribes; Places; Technical terms), a small map is provided, along with an extensive and informative series of discursive endnotes. Although this reader would have provided footnotes, especially when dealing with a translation with commentary, this should not detract from the importance and usefulness of Bosworth's work.