Sa'di in Love: The Lyrical Verses of Persia's Master Poet (International Library of Iranian Studies) - Hardcover

'In this volume of love, wine, handsome cupbearers, roses and nightingales Dr Katouzian opens the door to one of the treasures of Persian culture, the poetry of Sa di, a champion of towering figures such as Sir William Jones, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Voltaire. In this fascinating bilingual collection of love songs, Dr. Katouzian s learned introduction, and the beautiful and musical English translation capture the true spirit and sentiments of Persian culture, rendering the subtleties of the psychology of love, both spiritual and profane. This collection is a superb example of Persian poetry, showing why classical Persian poets are living heroes in Persian cultural areas, venerated in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Central Asia.' --- Ali-Asghar Seyed-Ghorab, Associate Professor of Persian, Leiden University

'In the breath that I die, for you I'll be longing/ Wishing to turn into the dust of your belonging' - Sa'di, Expressions of Love. With poetry which speaks across the ages, Sa'di (1210-1281) is a vital classical poet and a towering figure of the medieval Persian canon. Comparable in skill and stature to other Persian poets such as Ferdowsi, Hafez, Rumi and Omar Khayyam, Sa'di's verses--best known through his 'Bustan' and 'Golestan' address universal themes of passion, love and the human condition in works which are both psychologically perceptive and beautifully crafted. His mystical writings, contemporaneous with Rumi, reveal a degree of depth, wisdom and insight which have placed Sa'di in the pantheon of world literature. In this essential new translation of Sa'di's work, leading expert on Iranian studies Homa Katouzian seeks to bring the poet's lyrics to a new readership. The book provides the Persian text and Katouzian's English translation side-by-side, creating an indispensible tool for students and enthusiasts of Iranian history, literature and culture.