Outstanding as an example of his historical perspective is
the Introduction to the Dawn-Breakers. It contains a concise and brilliant
history of Islam, to inform the reader concerning the forms and elements which
concurred to set the stage on which the deeply moving drama of the Báb's
Revelation was played. Many a time, during his table conversation, to illustrate
some points, he would accurately quote from that particular book, or from God
Passes By, or some other of his writings, often showing surprise or perplexity
at the limited information, or lack of it, of some of his listeners. The
footnotes of The Dawn-Breakers, some of which are in French, are another
example of his talent in the field of historical research. To appreciate the
tremendous background of knowledge he possessed at the time of his translation
of that book, it suffices to glance at the titles and authors of the fifty-five
books he consulted, as listed in the Appendix. In addition, one finds in his
own handwriting the genealogy of the Báb, showing connection with Bahá'u'lláh's
descendants, and presented on a fivefold sheet of paper twenty-six inches long.
The genealogy is prepared with
scrupulous care, and shows the ramifications of the families, including names
known to every Bahá'í as well as names unknown to the average believer, but
which Shoghi Effendi brought to mind with great facility. Always amazing was
his inexhaustible memory and the ease with which he recalled episodes, placing
personages in their proper positions, with all their particulars of names,
backgrounds and degrees of relationship. It was like reliving the spellbound
days of my childhood when my aged and learned tutor would narrate the legendary
feats of Greek mythology, with gods and people brought alive by his fascinating
word pictures.
- Hand of the Cause Ugo Giachery ('Shoghi Effendi – Recollections’)