Publisher's Synopsis
SELECTED POEMS OF ZEB-UN-NISSA The Princess Sufi Poet 'Makhfi' (Large Print & Large Format Edition) Translation & Introduction Paul Smith The princess Zeb-un-Nissa (1638-1702) pen-name 'Makhfi' meaning 'concealed', was the beautiful and talented oldest daughter of the strict Muslim Emperor of Mughal India, Aurangzeb. She was imprisoned for 20 years for her Sufi views and conspiring with a brother against him. Her over 550 ghazals and ruba'is in Persian are deep, spiritual and at times truly heartbreaking. The correct forms and spiritual meaning are preserved in this large selection of her poetry. Introduction is on her Life & Times and Poetry; Sufis & Dervishes: Their Art and Use of Poetry; The Poetic Forms in Makhfi's Divan. Selected Bibliography, Glossary. Large Print (16pt) & Large Format Paperback (7" x 10"). Illustrated... 207 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."I have never seen such a good translation and I would like to write a book in Farsi and introduce his Introduction to Iranians." B. Khorramshai, Academy of Philosophy, Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of mystical works in English into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. Paul Smith (b. 1945) is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of 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, Mahsati, Ghalib, Iqbal and many others, as well as poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and twelve screenplays.
