Spiritual Verses (Penguin Classics) [Paperback]

Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi (Author), Alan Williams (Editor, Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 2007 | Series: Penguin Classics

The spiritual masterpiece of the Persian Sufi tradition-in a brilliant new translation

The longest single -authored "mystical" poem ever written, the Masnavi-ye Ma'navi, or "spiritual couplets," is the masterpiece of the Persian Sufi tradition. Its author, Jalaloddin Rumi, was a poet and mystic of the highest attainment, but he was first and foremost a spiritual teacher, and his Masnavi is a ladder to the spiritual world, leading the reader to the ultimate goal of the Sufi path-union with God. Alan Williams's translation into blank verse beautifully conveys the poetry of the original Persian couplets, while his introduction discusses how the modern reader might approach Rumi's writing.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mowlana Jalaloddin Balkhi (1207-1273), known to the world as Rumi, was an Iranian poet of a status in Muslim civilization comparable to the greatest poets of Europe.
Alan Williams is a senior lecturer in comparative religion at the University of Manchester, specializing in Iranian studies.

From AudioFile

This volume contains a dozen stories from Book One of the six-volume collection, composed in rhyming couplets by the Afghan/Persian poet Rumi in the 1260s. With Anton Lesser's patient, precise narration, and Naxos's quality production, these religious stories are accessible to a wider audience. Without being effeminate, Lesser's voice is unusually high pitched for a man's voice, which may be jarring at first for some listeners. But his classical but unpretentious Shakespearean style, perfectly paced, makes this set worthy of repeated listening. Persian music, commissioned for this recording, sets the tone. The liner notes include background to the work and an introduction by the translator. S.E.S. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (August 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140447911
• ISBN-13: 978-0140447910
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #564,181 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars absolutely superb, February 11, 2008

By 

M. C. Maufroy "Muriel Maufroy "author of ... (London (UK)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spiritual Verses (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

At last, a translation of Rumi's Masnavi which, without ever being pedantic or obscure, is both faithful to the original Persian and to Rumi's teaching. I highly recommend it. This is only the first book of the Masnavi, though (the title is incomplete and misleading) and I am looking forward to the translations of the next five books. A brilliant and moving piece of work.