Author Description

The GREAT POETS of the FABLED CITY of SHIRAZ An Anthology of Sufi, Dervish, Court & Satirical Poets from the 9th to the 20th Centuries of Shiraz. Translation & Introduction Paul Smith. For over a thousand years Shiraz has given to the world many of the finest poets that have ever existed fro Mansur Hallaj to Sadi and Hafiz, the satirist Obetd Zakani, the Jewish poet Shahin and the tragic princess poet Jahan Khatun and many others. This book is a history, life & poems of all of them... a result of 50 years study and writing. Contents: Shiraz in History page 9, The Various Forms in Classical Persian Poetry 36, Sufism in Persian Poetry 48, A Glossary of Sufi & Dervish Poetry 52. The Poets of Shiraz 57, Mansur al-Hallaj 59, Baba Kuhi 69, Ruzbihan 73, Hamgar 78, Sadi 84, Nasir 150, Khaju 154, Obeyd Zakani 164, Emad 228, Shahin 243, Hafiz 267, Ruh Attar 369, Haydar 385, Yazdi 400, Azad 402, Junaid 407, Jalal 412, Jahan Khatun 413, Shah Shuja 469, Bushaq 476, Shah Da’i 491, Lisani 500, Ahli 502, Figani 505, Urfi 530, Visal 536, Qa’ani 537, Shurida 544, Munis ‘Ali Shah 546, Lotfali Suratgar 551, Mehdi Hamidi 555. Biographies and ‘Further Reading’ on every poet.The correct rhyme-structure and meaning has been kept as well as the beauty and these powerful and often mystical poems. Large Print (14pt) & Large Format (7” x 10”) 558 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. “Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith.” Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of many mystical works in English into Persian and knower of Hafiz’s Divan off by heart, “Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz.” Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author). Paul Smith (b. 1945) is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets from the Per