Author Description

Conference Of The Birds is one of the great works of worldliterature. In this new reissue of C. S. Nott's classic prose translation,this epic poem explores the nature of the spiritual path through an allegoryof the brave birds who go in search of their king through the valleys ofexultation and despair that represent the stages of the seeker as he travelstoward enlightenment. Interspersed throughout their journey are timelesstales of prophets and kings, saints and sinners, lovers and scoundrels.Farid ud-Din Attar was the predecessor of the great PersianSufi poet Jalalludin Rumi. They are reputed to have met when Rumi was aboy. Rumi obviously found much inspiration in Attar and uses the same techniqueof weaving wisdom within entertaining and amusing tales.