This is part V of the Sacred Books of the East Pahlavi Texts translation. It is the shortest one in the series, about half of most other SBE volumes. SBE 47 contains translations of a number of very late Zoroastrian texts, some prophetic in nature, others providing clues to the chronology of the religion. As such, the texts here, the Dinkard and Selections of Zad-Sparam, make interesting reading. They will be of use both to scholars looking for information about the development of Zoroastrianism, and those looking for non-traditional books of prophecy. West concludes that the traditional date of the birth of Zoroaster corresponds to 660 [BC]; more recently, 628 [BC] has been proposed, so the former date probably isn"t so far off. He also computes the timetable of Zoroastrian prophecy: don"t get too excited, though, the end of the world isn"t until 2398, so we still have about four centuries left. (Quote from sacred-texts.com)About the AuthorThomas Firminger Thiselton-Dyer (1843 - 1928)Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer FLS FRS KCMG (July 28, 1843-December 23, 1928) was a British botanist.Thiselton-Dyer was born in Westminster, London. Initially studying mathematics at Oxford University, he graduated in natural science in 1867. He became Professor of Natural History at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester and then Professor of Botany at the Royal College of Science in Dublin. In 1872, he became professor at the Royal Horticultural Society in London, being recommended by Joseph Hooker.Then in 1875, Thiselton-Dyer was offered the Assistant Directorship at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, under Hooker, where he was to stay for thirty years. Thiselton-Dyer spent considerable time on the Colonies, e.g. introducing rubber to plantations of Sri La