The Shaving of Shagpat

George Meredith (1828 - 1909) was a famous English novelist and poet whose career developed in conjunction with an era of great chance in English literature during the second half of the nineteenth century. The biggest recognition obtained due to his works referred to Victorian literary conventions, later to demonstrations of modern social problems. By his followers he was considered as the earliest English psychological novelists. The Shaving of Shagpat is a fantasy novel by George Meredith which was published in 1856. The novel itself is a humorous oriental romance and allegory written in the style of the Arabian Nights. Each story may contain a number of other stories within. The plot of the story is simple and very easy to read. Shibli Bagarag, a Persian barber, and Noorna an enchantress are given the quest of shaving the tyrant Shagpat, who by the power of his magical hair holds his city in thrall. Along the way Shibli acquires a magic sword and meets a series of exotic creatures, including a talking hawk and several genies. An excellent story for those children who like Gene stories and marvelous eastern culture.