Devoted to one of the most fascinating and dynamic rulers of the 17th century, this volume presents essays on the rule, diplomacy, governance, and many building projects of Shah 'Abbas. Published in an oversized format (9x11.5"), the volume contains the catalogue of a landmark exhibition held in the British Museum in 2009. In addition to the lengthy entries on individual works of art that include carpets, ceramics, metalwork, and books, the accompanying essays situate these objects in their cultural and religious contexts--including that of Isfahan's non-Muslim communities. The many religious shrines supported by Shah 'Abbas receive particular attention, with color plates of the shrines today. It is regrettable, given the quality of the text and the importance of the works of art and architecture included, that the quality of the image reproduction is not equally first-rate. Canby is curator of Islamic art at the British Museum. The volume is distributed in North America by The David Brown Book Co. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)