Gennady Kurin is a DPhil student at the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford, completing his dissertation on the historiography and memory of the reign of the Safavid Shah Tahmasb (r. 1524-1576). He has previously published articles and book reviews in journals such as Iranian Studies, Digital Studies / Le champ numérique, Turkish Historical Review, and Kurdish Studies.Metin Atmaca (PhD 2013, University of Freiburg) is Associate Professor at Social Sciences University of Ankara. He was visiting scholar in Paris, Berlin, Philadelphia, and Tehran. He has published on Kurdish, Ottoman, Iranian and Iraqi history in the Cambridge History of the Kurds, Oxford Bibliographies Online, EI Three, Middle Eastern Studies, Journal of World History, Kurdish Studies, and other journals and anthologies. He is currently working on a book project on Ottoman Kurdistan.

“Like every academic discipline, Iranian Studies should also be aware of the unknown treasures to be found in archives and estates of deceased scholars, that can serve to help us better understand the discipline and the circumstances of its development. This book brings to life the letters exchanged between two important scholars of Iranian and Kurdish studies: the towering figure of Vladimir Minorsky, the leading and most prolific specialist of his time, and C.J. Edmonds, the diplomat-scholar, both of whom combined their political experiences with academic research to produce some extraordinary publications, especially on the history and language of the Kurds. This timely book provides a welcome glimpse into an academic and personal friendship of two exceptional and exemplary scholars of their time.”– Ludwig Paul, Universität Hamburg“This book holds paramount importance for students and scholars specializing in Iranian and Kurdish Studies. By advancing ‘Kurdology’ and introducing the term ‘Zagrology’, Minorsky and Edmonds provide indispensable contributions for those exploring the depths of Iranian and Kurdish cultural landscapes. Beyond merely marking the inception of these fields, this work serves as an invaluable guide, navigating readers through pivotal moments in scholarship. It stands as an indispensable cornerstone in the study of Iranian and Kurdish history, language, and culture, offering a profound resource that enriches scholarly pursuits in these disciplines.”– Behrooz Chamanara, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj