Poems of Hafez [Hardcover]

Reza Saberi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 12, 1995

In The Poems of Hafez, Reza Saberi translates from Persian into English the lyric poems ("ghazals") of the fourteenth-century Iranian poet Shamsoddin Khaja Mohammad Hafez. For the translation, Saberi has used the Qazvini-Ghani Edition of Hafez, which was originally published in 1941 and republished with additional notes and indexes with the help of A. Jorbozedar in 1988. The numbers of ghazals in translation correspond to those of the said edition. The Poems of Hafez is the first faithful, authentic and complete translation of the Ghazals of Hafez by an Iranian scholar, though more than 600 years have passed since the death of Hafez who is considered the greatest lyricist of Iran. Particularly appropriate for university students of Persian literature classes and persons interested in Oriental and/or mystical poetry and readers of New Age materials.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Reza Saberi, author and translator of several books, is a retired teacher. He is well-versed in both Persian and English languages.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 404 pages
• Publisher: University Press Of America (December 12, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761800751
• ISBN-13: 978-0761800750
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,421,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars lost in translation, October 21, 2005

By 

Niloofar Gheissari (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Poems of Hafez (Hardcover)

Poetry is some thing you never can translate adequately. Reza Saberi has made a grate effort to do it. However, it is a pity that so much is "lost in translation"!
I do not blame Reza Saberi as I have seen more failure in attempts made by Gertrude Bell or Sir William Jones in translating Hafez.
When you read the translations and compare them with the original poems, some of them sound so stupid. Even Emerson, the great American poet, tried to translate some of Hafez poets but he achieved no considerable success. Bahaeddin Khoramshahi apparently has translated a few of Hafez Poems (?). I can remember that once I read one of his translations and it was relatively good, though still "lost in translation".

I cannot suggest non Persian speakers to learn Persian as it needs years of study; but perhaps I could suggest them to read on Sufi and the huge influence of Persian culture on Sufi before they proceed to read this book. They also need a big deal of imagination to be combined with it. Some historical and cultural knowledge about Iran is essential.
Sorry, I know I was not a great help!

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars a valiant effort, but falls short, June 20, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Poems of Hafez (Hardcover)

Translating the ghazal version of Persian poetry is never easy due to its peculiar but essential rhyming scheme. Hafez is made even more difficult by his mastery of vocabulary, mystery of purpose, multiplicity of meaning, and the intricacies and nuances of his intent. In my Hafez class, we spend about 1/2 hour on each ghazal with an ostad (master) of Hafez.... and we're all native speakers! Mr. Saberi correctly states that an intimate knowledge of the culture, religion, history, and times of the era is a prerequisite to an 'accurate' translation (although he mistakenly assumes these attributes are the domain of native speakers only!). However, also important is mastry of the destination language, English. Although the language of this translation is exceptional, IMHO it isn't poetic, nor artistic. More importantly this translation lacks the rhyming scheme of the ghazal which is vital to its form. In these respects, although a valiant effort and filling a niche, I think this translation misses the mark. For my taste, Paul Smith's version comes closer to a truer Hafez, capturing most of the meaning (if not always the muliplicity of meanings) and the intricate melody of the ghazal in the rhyming scheme. And it is far easier to read, grasp, and enjoy!

For example, compare Saberi's (#4):

Zephyr, kindly tell that elegant gazelle that
It was she who made us head toward the mountains and desersts.
Why does that sugar-dealer, may whose life last long,
Never inquire about the sugar-chewing parrot?

to Smith's (#9 from 'Hafiz: Tongue of the Hidden'):

Soft breeze, to the graceful gazelle go gently and say:
"You sent us to mountains and deserts, sent us away."
Sweet seller of such sugar, whose life be always long,
Why not ask about the parrot who needs sugar all day?

I believe the difference speaks for itself.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars poems of hafez, April 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Poems of Hafez (Hardcover)

I am not a scholar of either Persian or English, or of Hafez' poems, but I know enough of both languages to say that Mr. Saberi's translation of Hafez' poems is of the highest quality and fidelity to the originial Persian. In its accuracy, his translation reminds me of the great R.A. Nichelson's translation of Maulana Rumi's Masnawi.