Ron Sela is Assistant Professor of Central Asian History at Indiana University, Bloomington. He is the author of Ritual and Authority in Central Asia: The Khan's Inauguration Ceremony (2003) and co-author, with Scott C. Levi, of Islamic Central Asia: An Anthology of Historical Sources (2009).

• Introduction; 1. The origins and usages of Tīmūr's heroic apocrypha; 2. Tīmūr's birth and childhood; 3. Youth; 4. Inauguration and kingship; 5. Premonitions; 6. Central Asia in turmoil, 1700–50; Conclusion.

'Sela's book is a clear contribution to scholarship. He brings a relatively unknown body of fascinating material to our attention, and provides extensive translations of parts of this material, which give us an excellent view of what exists, helping us determine how to move forward. His work suggests new approaches to the history of a neglected period. Finally, the monograph gives us compelling evidence for the existence of a Tīmūrmania in Central Asia, long before we knew one existed, which continues to this day with fascinating ramifications. In all these ways Sela's work is a service to the scholarly community.' Anne Broadbridge, Journal of the American Oriental Society