The Hafez Poems of Gertrude Bell: With the Original Persian on the Facing Page (Classics of Persian Literature ; 1) (Paperback)

by Gertrude, Bell (Author), Shamseddin, Hafiz (Author), E. Denison, Ross (Introduction)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
the finest & most truly poetical renderings

Language Notes
Text: English, Persian (translation)
Original Language: Persian

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Ibex Publishers, Inc. (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0936347392
• ISBN-13: 978-0936347394
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #103,321 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #5 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Foreign Language Fiction > More Languages > Persian
  #25 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Islam > Sufism
  #38 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Inspirational & Religious

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Dated Work, August 24, 2000

By A Customer

This old translation of the poet Hafez was once popular because it fit in with the stiff yet flowery British poetry of a century ago. Now it's dated and gives little meaning to the verse. Translator Bell was more familiar with the Arabic than the Persian language, and more familiar with Iraq than Persia (Iran), the home of Hafez. Of limited value.

15 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars close to the source, May 22, 2002

By A Customer

First one must understand that to translate means to change. With that in mind all the Persian poetry translated is changed poetry. Ms. Bell's book is exceptional because it has both Farsi (Persian) and English. To truly understand Bell's Hafiz book you must not only be able to read Farsi and English or you must be conscious enough to "understand" the "meaning" of the poems. Since most people do not fit in this category selecting Bell or Ladinsky, or another translation will only matter to your personal taste rather than accuracy. So maybe it's best that you read different translations to get different "flavors" of Hafez. Enjoy the books and love one another, remember "all you need is love."

5.0 out of 5 stars Among the world's greatest poetry, June 24, 2008

By	Carol Miller (Mexico, D.F. Mexico) - See all my reviews

Hafez is one of the best known and most perennially popular poets of Persia, a land traditionally noted for its reverance for its poets. Gertrude Bell, however, an exceptional scholar, adventurer, diplomat and dreamer, in an age of magical literature, has captured his tenderness, magnificence and delicacy in an impeccable translation, easily as exquisite as the original, a superb example of a good interpretation, with intimate knowledge of both languages and both cultures and a talent for writing in either or both.