Lang, Andrew

The Brown Fairy Book

Prince Tahmāsp hears of Princess Mihr-afrūz, whose hand is promised only to the suitor who can answer her riddle. He journeys to her father’s city despite warnings, but the quest turns grim when failure brings death. One by one, his brothers follow, until the youngest, Almās-ruh-bakhsh, finds the answer with the princess’s help. He solves the riddle, wins her hand, and returns home with a hard-won marriage. This is a richly imagined fairy tale of royal splendor, hidden knowledge, and dangerous pride.