You are invited on one of the most vivid journeys ever recorded. The Book of Arda Viraf is an ancient Persian classic of the Zoroastrian faith, telling of a devout priest chosen by his people to carry their deepest questions beyond the edge of life. In this faithful modern-English edition, the story unfolds in clear, present-day language: a body resting for seven days and nights, a soul crossing the Chinvat Bridge, an archangel at its side, and a world of radiant heavens and shadowed places where every soul meets the truth of its own deeds. Here is the maiden who is compassion itself, the hag who is conscience turned to dread, and the thrones of the blessed. More than an account of the afterlife, it is a searching meditation on honesty, kindness, and the care of all living things. Complete with an introduction, glossary, and a guide to reading, this edition opens a timeless classic to today's readers. Part of The World Scriptures Library.