Publisher's Synopsis
DIVAN OF NIZAMI Translation and Introduction Paul Smith Nizami (d. 1208) is a true Sufi Master Poet who is most famous for his six books in masnavi form: The Treasury of Mysteries, Layla and Majnun, Khrosrau and Shirin, The Seven Portraits and his two books on Alexander. He also composed a Divan of approximately 20,000 couplets mostly in ghazals and ruba'is. His influence on Attar, Rumi, Sadi, Hafiz and Jami and all others that followed was profound. Here are two of his greatest mystical masnavi epic poems The Treasury of Mysteries, Layla and Majnun in the correct form and meaning. Also all of remaining 210 ghazals and a selection of his ruba'is and qasidas translated into English and a good selection from his other masterpiece masnavis in the Introduction on the life and Times and Poetry of Nizami and on the various forms of poetry he used and a Selected Bibliography. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept and the beauty and meaning of these powerful, mystical poems. Large Print (14pt) & Large Format (7" x 10") 433 pages. COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'."It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran."Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of many mystical works in English into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart."Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz." Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author). "I was very impressed with the beauty of these books." Dr. R.K. Barz. Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University. Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets from the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre and many others, as well as poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and screenplays. amazon.com/author/smithpa
