Product Description
Writing nearly 1000 years ago, Nizami captures the lightness of heart that falling in love can bring, the thrill of shared affection, the sorrows of separation, the pains of jealousy and the grief that comes with loss. Nizami inspired rock star, Eric Clapton, to write his song "Layla".
From the Publisher
A classic of World Literarure returnsA classic of World Literature in an excellent English translation returns to print after a lengthy absence. The text is a prose rendition of Nizami's twelfth-century poetic masterpiece, in which he reshapes the legends of Majnun, the quintessential romantic fool, into a tale of the ideal lover. For the Sufis, Majnun represents the perfect devotee of the "religion of the heart", and the story is an allegory of the soul's longing for God. "Layla could bewitch with one glance from beneath her dark hair, Majnun was her slave and a dervish dancing before her. Layla held in her hand the glass of wine scented with musk. Majnun had not touched the wine, yet he was dtunk with its sweet smell..." This is a beautiful production, and it includes a final chapter newly translated from the Persian by Omid Safi and Zia Inayat Khan.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.