Average customer rating:
- Economy of language, never of Spirit.
- the essential rumi
- the "best" Rumi book?
- Excellent..... read why.....
- Rumi, sigh of wonder...
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Essential Rumi
Jalal al-Din Rumi
Manufacturer: HarperOne
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The Illuminated Rumi
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ASIN: 0062509594
Release Date: 2004-05-28 |
Amazon.com
No translator could do greater justice to the gorgeous simplicity of Rumi's poetry than Coleman Barks has done here. These exquisite renderings of the 13th-century Persian mystic's words into American free verse capture all the "inner searching, the delicacy, and simple groundedness" that characterize Rumi's poetry while remaining faithful to the images, tone, and spiritual message of the originals. Barks's introductions to each of the 27 sections (described as "playful palimpsests spread over Rumi's imagination," and "meant to confuse scholars who would divide Rumi's poetry into the accepted categories") are themselves wonderful achievements of a poetic imagination; searching explanations of unfamiliar concepts and funny stories provide colorful background and frame the selections as no dry historical exegesis could.
While Barks's stamp on this collection is clear, it in no way interferes with the poems themselves; Rumi's voice leaps off these pages with an ecstatic energy that leaves readers breathless. There are poems of love, rage, sadness, pleading, and longing; passionate outbursts about the torture of longing for his beloved and the sweet pleasure that comes from their union; amusing stories of sexual exploits or human weakness; and quiet truths about the beauty and variety of human emotion. More than anything, Rumi makes plain the unbridled joy that comes from living life fully, urging us always to put aside our fears and take the risk to do so. As he says: "The way of love is not / a subtle argument. / The door there is devastation. / Birds make great sky-circles / of their freedom. / How do they learn it? / They fall, and falling, / they're given wings." --Uma Kukathas
Book Description
The best–selling Rumi book ever is now better than ever! This revised and expanded edition of the comprehensive one–volume edition of America's most popular poet includes a new introduction by Coleman Barks, and 57 new poems never published before.
The ecstatic, spiritual poetry of Rumi is more popular than ever, and The Essential Rumi continues to be far and away the top–selling title of all Rumi books. With the addition of many new poems and a new introduction, The Essential Rumi is now clearly the definitive, and most delightful selection of Rumi's poetry.
Customer Reviews:
Economy of language, never of Spirit. .......2007-10-04
"Come to the orchard in Spring.
There is light and wine, and sweethearts
in the pomegranate flowers.
If you do not come, these do not matter.
If you do come, these do not matter."
With amazing economy of words and with a deep understanding of his art, the luminary Persian poet, jurist, and theologian Jalal Rumi takes us on a profound and deeply moving journey into the mind of the spirit.
the essential rumi.......2007-07-30
Coleman Barks crafts scintillating translations of Rumi's ecstatic, poetic prayers. Speaking directly to the modern heart across centuries, Rumi captures the most poignant and mystical ways we seek to commune with a vast and unknowable creator who is at the same time an intimate companion, a friend. Wonderful prayers, poetry and parables bring Rumi's world to life, and enliven this life, injecting joyful surprise into the eternal mysteries.
the "best" Rumi book?.......2007-07-13
As a lover of Rumi with many friends similarly smitten with him, I hear many opinions about which Rumi book is "the best". One criticism of this Barks translation is that it is a translation of a translation, not direct from the original Persian; but a Persian friend maintains that the feeling Barks gives is the truest to the original that my Persian friend has found. For me, this is the best because of that feeling, and also because of the breadth and depth - including the sheer number - of poems translated. For me Rumi is more teacher than entertainer; and for a practical, day to day study of his work, I know no better book than this.
Excellent..... read why............2007-06-09
This book is an excellent translation of Rumi. However, it is NOT, nor can it ever be a perfect reflection of the original text. It is quite impossible to capture all the internal rhyming, layers of esoteric meaning and connotations of the original language no matter who the translator is. I believe EVERY scholar agrees on that point.
With the above said, Coleman Barks is faithful to the spirt of Rumi and of Sufism. It is obvious this is a lifelong passion and he is a Sufi himself having been directed to do this work by a recognized teacher in a Sufi order. While some argue that you can only be a Sufi within the context of Islam, equal numbers of scholars many from the Middle East argue that you can be a Sufi outside of this context and some argue that Sufism pre-dates Islam.
Whatever school of thought you espouse, it is clear that the important communication that speaks across the ages through Rumi's words is love for God in the moment and a longing to realize it fully. While Coleman Barks may have studied English translations of Rumi's work to compile his own, it is clear to me that he was guided by his heart, learned advisors and good scholarship. If this were not so, I doubt that Robert Bly, Huston Smith (world authority on comparative religion) and others would appear on the video Rumi: Poet Of The Heart which is about Rumi and the Coleman Barks translations of his poetry.
If you only speak English, I agree that you miss a lot by not having access to the original language. However, a concept accepted by all of Sufism is that everyone has a piece of the truth and a unique perspective. In the case of Coleman Barks, this is certainly an educated perspective that is complimented by many other translators. If you are serious about Rumi, then I recommend getting other translations and finding the ones that most move your heart which I'm sure would make Rumi very happy indeed.
Some may find Coleman Barks accent a bit irritating. However, it is also a good reminder that the most important thing is the message and the intention behind it. While analysis of literal poetry is very useful, this volume tries to strike a balance between literal translation and relevance to a modern context. I've read some other translations and used Coleman Barks translations in a class on Sufism given by a 30+ year Sufi with a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Harvard. If he finds these translations useful to present to a class, I can't imagine that Coleman Barks can be too far off the mark.
Rumi, sigh of wonder..........2007-05-20
As a huge poetry and literature fan, I couldn't pass up the chance to upgrade my penguin classics edition to this more comprehensive version of Rumi. Fraught with themes of life, love, lust, companionship, outlook, really any strata of emotional or human thought, this collection is a gem of Rumi's work. I am not one to dabble in qualifications or translating accuracy- I simply go with what feels right and this book felt beautifully right from beginning to end.
Amazon.com
When Rumi was born in Afghanistan in 1207, it was a time of tremendous political turmoil in the Near East. Paradoxically, it was also a time of "brilliant mystical awareness," writes translator Coleman Barks in The Soul of Rumi. This brilliance shines through in every passage, as Barks celebrates the ecstatic nature of Rumi's poetry. Barks (The Essential Rumi) has been given much credit for leading modern Westerners to this astounding poet. His sensitivity to the reader is evidenced in how he organizes the poetry according to themes. Since Rumi is often quoted at public gatherings, such as weddings and memorial services, this makes referencing especially easy. In the section entitled "When Friend Meets Friend," readers find the poem "The Soul's Friend":
The most living moment comes when those who love each other meet each other's eyes and in what flows between them then. To see your face in a crowd of others, or alone on a frightening street, I weep for that….
Barks offers a gracefully rendered introduction to each section, providing personal and historical background of the poetry. Elegantly designed and printed on cream-colored, heavy-stock paper, this is a delight for Rumi fans. --Gail Hudson
Book Description
Inside A Lover's Heart There's Another World, And Yet Another
Rumi's masterpieces have inspired countless people throughout the centuries, and Coleman Barks's exquisite renderings of the thirteenth-century Persian mystic are widely considered the definitive versions for our time. Barks's translations capture the inward exploration and intensity that characterize Rumi's poetry, making this unique voice of mysticism and desire contemporary while remaining true to the original poems. In this volume readers will encounter the essence of Sufism's insights into the experience of divine love, wisdom, and the nature of both humanity and God.
While Barks's stamp on this collection is clear, it is Rumi's voice that leaps off these pages with a rapturous power that leaves readers breathless. These poems express our deepest yearning for the transcendent connection with the source of the divine: there are passionate outbursts about the torment of longing for the beloved and the sweet delight that comes from union; stories of sexual adventures and of loss; poems of love and fury, sadness and joy; and quiet truths about the beauty and variety of human emotion. For Rumi, soul and body and emotion are not separate but are rather part of the great mystery of mortal life, a riddle whose solution is love. Above all else, Rumi's poetry exposes us to the delight that comes from being fully alive, urging us always to put aside our fears and take the risk of discovering our core self:
No one knows what makes the soul wake up so happy! Maybe a dawn breeze has blown the veil from the face of God.
These fresh, original translations magnificently convey Rumi's insights into the human heart and its longings with his signature passion and daring, focusing on the ecstatic experience of the inseparability of human and divine love. The match between Rumi's sublime poetry and Coleman Barks's poetic art are unequaled, and here this artistic union is raised to new heights.
Customer Reviews:
Find Rumi's Essence Elsewhere.......2007-02-03
Rumi is one of my favorite poets but Barks does not do him justice. The translation poorly written so it feels choppy. Furthermore, he changes it so it water down the power of Rumi's poetry. Do not choose this book.
Coleman Barks.......2006-03-20
Coleman barks translation in my opinion is superior to any others who have attempted Rumi. I really liked this book.
Amazing!.......2005-08-08
I find it absolutely amazing that those who claim to be admirers of Rumi, online reviewers and editorial reviewers, do NOT even know where he was born! Persia, not Afghanistan, was his birthplace. Afghanistan did not even exist until the 19th century, thanks to the British.The land that is now called Afghanistan was part of the Persian Empire and remained so for centuries AFTER Rumi's death (500 years to be exact!). Rumi is a Persian poet, has been and forever will be. His poetry exemplifies pure, eloquent Farsi (language of Persia/Iran). The utter ignorance of this fact on the part of some reviewers, nonetheless, does not detract from the brilliance of the poet and the excellence of this translation. An absolute gem.
Transforming.......2005-01-20
It would be pointless for me to really try to "review" this book. I can only highly, emphatically recommend it. This book is the first introduction I've had to Rumi, and it's been an incredible literary experience for me. This book has really touched and inspired me. I've been reading it slowly over the last few months, digesting it bit by bit, because I wanted to savor it instead of rushing through it. One day in particular, I remember being in a foul mood, fed up with people and the world, and after reading a handful of Rumi's poems I felt peaceful and transformed. If you have any interest at all in spirituality or poetry, do yourself a favor and buy this book.
Best introduction to Rumi available.......2004-02-08
If there is only one book of Rumi you purchase, this should be it. But warning, the purchase may send you into a frenzy to learn and read more.
Barks' works as a translator here make poetry come alive, leap off the page and fly circles around your mind. A single poem can bring a person to great thoughts.
The book begins with a great introduction to Rumi's life, work, culture, spirituality, but Barks also includes some history of Sufi poetry. Then Barks divides the poetry into logical sections. Some involve community, others involve love, some love of God, peace between religions, inner life, work, home, playing... The range of catagories Barks creates represent human life in a wholeistic manner. They make Rumi's poetry easier to grasp, much more enjoyable, and center on the needs of all human beings. Barks also introduces each section (usually no more than a page). Barks' intros are concise, clear, and point toward key ideas in the most notable poems of each section.
This large collection of poetry is worth reading for a lifetime. Not to mention as Robert Bly asked of Barks years ago, Barks follows through in "releasing these translations from their cages."
Book Description
This is a clear and user-friendly guide to Persian grammar, both of the written and spoken languages, especially useful for those in the early stages of studying the Persian language. It serves as a revision and reference book that can be used to support any Persian course book. The script is taught step-by-step. It uses the official reformed spelling, and gives attention to handwriting, educated standard and educated colloquial pronunciation, and the important polite forms. The grammar is explained in lay terms with copious examples, all shown both in Persian script and in Roman transliteration. The grammatical themes are grouped logically, and there are cross-references, appendices and a subject index to facilitate the search for the right form.
Customer Reviews:
very over whelming.......2007-08-27
okay
this book has a CD at the back and that helps
ALOT with pronouncing
unless you have someone close to you that speaks
farsi you deffinetaly need to hear the way words are said properly.
This books teaches you
english - farsi (written in the arabic characters)
NO INBERTWEEN
so there is no translating of the farsi
its a great way to learn the alphabet
but very very over whelming
My persian friends think its easier to learn this way,
without translating the farsi
Excellent Learning Aid.......2007-08-17
This is one of the best texts available for Persian grammar,and quite inexpensive for the content (now that it is in paperback). All example sentences appear with translations, and perhaps 95% of them also with transliterations. Stress is unmarked except in certain examples, but there is a thorough chapter devoted to the stress rules. This is not a text which is divided into lessons, and it uses a minimal amount of vocabulary in the examples (there are no excercises or readings). However, the topics do procede in a logical fashion, with the script and pronunciation chapters in the beginning, and with syntax and formal/arabic constructions towards the end. There is an index and an excellent internal reference system, but no glossaries (as it is not a lesson-text).
I should also add that Mace takes great pains to explain grammatical concepts with little linguistic (read: normal) terminology. Personally, I had expected the book to use accepted linguistic terms for everything. The only section of the work in which this decision proves problematic, though, is in pronunciation, which is very vague and English-comparative. One would expect a more appropriate treatment from a Routledge Publishing grammar.
Lastly, Mace makes amends for many of the outdated forms in his "lesson" book which he wrote for the TY series, this time pointing out forms that are outdated and ones which are standard literary. Where differences between literary and accepted colloquial occur, mixed examples are given from the start. I have not found the same frequency of errors and typos, either.
In summation:
-clear, large-type examples in script/transliteration/translation
-includes a section on Persian handwritten styles
-several lovely photographs included with captions (also translated)
-irregular verb forms treated in an appendix
-layman's terminology
-very easy (if idiosyncratic) reference system between sections of the grammar
Accessible persian grammar writing with suggestions.......2007-03-05
This is a helpful grammar book that provides simple explanations of essential topics for beginning to low intermediate Persian learners. I highly recommend it as the one grammar book to buy at the start of your Persian language learning journey. For the next edition or for other new Persian language resources, here are my wishes: 1) Put all Persian writing in 14pt(#1 problem-we can't read the small type), 2) Make the reference book a combination work/reference book with space next to the Persian writing examples for us to practice our writing (give us a model to copy from until we become confident on our own) 3) Put some exercises in the book and again plenty of space for us to practice the writing 4) Give us the answers for the exercises with rules or explanations 5) Give us more lists of verbs and conjugation, compound verbs, auxilliary verbs 6) Keep going-please write a higher level book. Don't stop at one, give us another higher level AND another book that provides ADDITIONAL practice at the same lower level. 7) Please make the learning process more modern and interesting for this language. The old school style of teaching and learning Persian alienates many of those who are interested in the culture. Modern ESL materials can offer ideas.
I can't wait for someone who really loves this language to take this challenge to improve the materials available for students (Mace seems like a writer who could do this!) As well there needs to be complimentary books for Persian educators who will be able to better understand their learners and provide a positive learning experience in the classroom and not so reliant on copying, translations and dictation-as important as they are. Thanks.
This should be your first book.......2007-02-08
Definitely the best introductory Farsi book I have seen. The easiest to work through, although I believe it is absolutely necessary to be painstaking about finishing each and every one of the numerous exercises provided. It is very nice to have a key provided for each lesson (this is the major downfall of Thackston's book, be nazer-e-man). Some errors, but not sufficient to hinder the learner.
You can start here and work SLOWLY forward on your own.......2007-01-31
This excellent book does not pretend to be a course book, but it is so inclusive that a student who has learned HOW to study a language can progress with this alone. It has taken me 6 months to reach p. 100, working daily and exactingly, and the progress began to show when I got into the long (56 pp.) chapter on verbs--of course, the backbone of any language.
Like some other reviewers here, I started elsewhere. I tried first to learn from hearing tapes and talking to Iranian merchants in my neighborhood. It was not satisfactory, because no two sets of CDs used quite the same pronunciation, and no two Iranians (none trained to teach) transliterated the same way into English. So, I needed to know how to write down what I was hearing in Farsi. And I looked long and hard at what I was seeing here on Amazon (and seeing reviewed) before choosing this one.
Like a couple other reviewers of the book, I must admit that my 2-3 months of other approaches certainly prepared me to appreciate and work with this book. And since I had a background in learning language structure from Latin, I knew I could learn this way. No, the book won't give you scintillating conversation, and in fact, I let the speaking go until recently, because I still have huge gaps in vocabulary. But that can be remedied from lists and conversation, whereas the structure of the language can't be grasped without serious study.
Farsi is a language of great flexibility and subtilty, and this book does full justice to it. I am just under half-way through, but I'm generally able to write (without looking) the Farsi script for the sentences given, tripping up only on the Arabic-derived letters. I also activated my Farsi keyboard (Windows XP) about two weeks ago, and I'm now reviewing from the beginning and making notes in Farsi. I can't quite reproduce the signs taken from Arabic except to copy and paste the free-standing ones from the Arabic keyboard. And there are too many choices of Arabic! (I have used Iraqi.) And that, I might add, is a plus with learning Farsi--being able to read a certain amount of Arabic.
On again listening to the Pimsleur Persian CDs which come with no text or transliteration, I now know what I am hearing and can write it down in Farsi. No small achievement I feel in 10 months. I am also aware of the vast difference in language that occurs in the Iranian diaspora, mainly depending on how long the speaker has been here (US) and the level of education s/he acquired in Iran.
There have been a couple typos in Pace--discerned from their variation from the usual, such as "cand" misspelled in Farsi as "camd" in the middle of p. 100! A very small issue, however, given the overall quality of the book.
Before buying Pace, I tried working with the Lonely Planet phrase book and CD and found them unworkable for me. Print too small, many typos, inconsistent transliteration, etc. Also, the Gidgety female voice in English and the coarse male voice in Farsi were a turn-off after a few hours listening.
Book Description
The increasing popularity of the study of Persian (also known as Farsi, Tajiki or Dari) in the English speaking world, has created a need for a bi-directional Persian-English dictionary geared towards English speakers who are learning Persian.
The features of the Persian-English / English-Persian Learner's Dictionary which make it unique are:
Bi-directional: This is the first and only Persian-English/English-Persian dictionary in one volume which features both Persian and transliteration. Alphabet: The alphabet used in Persian is completely different from the English. This can be a major barrier in the early stages of learning the language. This dictionary provides a simple transliteration of the Persian word along with its equivalent in the Persian alphabet. Alphabetical order: In this dictionary, the alphabetical order in the Persian-English section is based on the English spelling. This makes it easy for the user who is not familiar with the Persian alphabet to find a word. Correct use of words: This dictionary gives synonyms in various contexts allowing the student to easily choose the correct meaning. Entries: Approximately 18,000 entries covering both day-to-day and more specialized vocabulary.
The Audience for this dictionary is: English speaking students of Persian. English speakers who are seeking to communicate with Persian speakers. Children of Iranians, Afghans and Tajiks outside their homeland who wish to learn their mother language. Persian speakers who wish to learn English.
Customer Reviews:
Great Dictionary!.......2007-10-05
This dictionary is organized so well and has words that you wouldn't think would even be in there since it seems small. I recommend this.
Qarib, vali kamel nist..........2007-04-08
This is the closest thing to a complete, practical Persian-English dictionary out there. Still, there are errors in it, such as spelling and transliteration. The other glaring issue is that the Persian section is organized by English transliteration. This is counter-intuitive to all but the most elementary Persian learner. All other dictionaries I've used are arranged according to the Persian spelling. This is a particularly difficult issue if you one, are unsure of a word's pronunciation, or two, do not subscribe to the author's pronunciation. Persian is far from a standardized language, and the nuances of modern Persian pronunciation can make word finding difficult. The word mim-jim-mim-'ayn could be transliterated as either mojamma', mojamme' or majma' based on the Arabic. To look this word up in this dictionary, you need to know that the word is pronounced majma'. Lastly, there are fewer entries than one would expect from a larger-than-pocket-size dictionary. One positive is that every word has pronunciation in its entry and it is of recent print, so it includes neologisms and other words of recent convention which other dictionaries leave out. Another is that it has both English to Persian and vice versa. Far from perfect, but still very useful for the modern student. A good companion would be the Hans Wehr or Nicholas Awde Arabic dictionaries to help with Arabic-dervied vocabulary, which is about 60% of total Persian vocabulary. Xoda hafez.
Persian-English Disctionary .......2007-01-27
Best Persian-English Disctionary I have found to date. I few flaws, but better than any else available.
This is the best dictionary for learning Persian.......2006-11-30
Most English
<->Persian dictionaries on the market are designed to serve the needs of native Persian speakers who are learning English. This dictionary is designed specifically for the English speaker who is learning Persian. It includes a Western alphabet transliteration of Persian words in addition to the Persian alphabet spelling. It includes the "present root" of each Persian verb -- essential for learners. It includes minimal explanations of ambiguous words, e.g. "earth (planet)" vs. "earth (soil)". In all other cases, it just lists the translated words. The dictionary was written by the author of the Lonely Planet Farsi Phrasebook. I've compared most of the English
<->Persian dictionaries -- this is the best for learning Persian.
Customer Reviews:
Not a bad effort.......2007-03-09
I like the way it is laid out and the use of phonetic spelling for Farsi speakers but I found that it was missing some words, such as 'khojaste' and 'baad' (not wind).
A good starting point, but not the end.......2007-01-01
This dictionary isn't perfect, but it's a good start. Its advantages are that it has each Persian word written in both a Roman transliteration as well as the original Arabic script, its layout is fairly straightforward, and according to a Persian friend of mine, the words included are fairly typical. He also said that it's well suited for what I needed it for, but stressed that it's for beginners. The only thing I could see as an improvement to this book is that it include a cue to the meaning of the translations for words with one-to-many translations. For example, the English word lie has two meanings (synonyms with recline and deceive), but if you look up lie in this book, you will get two entries, with no indication as to which one means which.
If I had known what was in this book before I bought it, I would still have bought it. It was affordable and is worth its price, but it's not going to be my last dictionary.
Not worth it........2006-06-02
This dictionary is not valuable to the beginner of Persian/Farsi because it merely gives quick glosses rather than full definitions. Because of the scant glosses, the student will not be able to find correct or appropriate definitions for a large number of words listed in the dictionary. It also fails to give the learner enough grammatical information for it to be a useful dictionary.
I have studied about 9 different languages over the past 10 years, and I've found that a good dictionary is the most essential tool for any language learner. Don't begin your study of Persian/Farsi with a tool that, in my opinon, is not worth the paper it's printed on.
Suggestion a good surce.......2006-03-26
This is a good book on this subject. But, I'd like to suggest a very good source of Persian (Farsi) books on the net: www.iranibook.com & www.iranibookshop.com You will find any Farsi books in this feild
Why didn't I read the reviews?.......2006-01-19
I only have myself to blame for buying this book.
I showed it to an Iranian friend and asked his opinion. He threw it across the room and gave me a tired look.
I just left it there.
Amazon.com
The 13th century Sufi mystic Jalal al-Din Rumi was a storyteller who spoke like a songwriter--in metered prose and rhyming verse. Whatever the translation (and there have been many), his words always seem to fall like lilting petals, drifting in a delicate pattern toward some grounded truth. This sensually illustrated version offers yet another new translation in which readers will find a mixture of Rumi's parables and poetry interwoven into each story. Thus, readers will start off firmly planted in Rumi's straightforward, storytelling voice. Then, about four paragraphs down, the translators will insert one of his ecstatic poems, then the tone will return to the story voice. It may seem like choppy editing, but it actually swirls and circles around like a joyful Sufi dancer. The chosen tales are all spiritually inspirational, as Rumi always is, yet they are also a pleasure to read as simple stories told by a master. The illustrations and attentive design artfully enhance the grace and fluidity of Rumi's words. --Gail Hudson
Book Description
One of the world's best-selling poets, 13th century Sufi mystic Jalaluddin Rumi has inspired and enlightened thousands with his playful, passionate work celebrating the sacred in everyday life. Now, the spiritual wealth of Rumi's stories and poetry in translation are restored to their authentic settings as delightful teaching tales and are accompanied by rare and wonderful art i nthe Sufi and Islamic tradition ranging throughout the history of Islam. This fresh rendering brings new life to this incomparable literature, which has transcended time, place, culture, and religion to speak directly to the hearts and souls of contemporary readers. With a foreward by Huston Smith.
Customer Reviews:
An Amazing Book.......2006-07-28
This is a great book. It is professionally translated and the words flow naturally. The introduction is powerful and it has a lot of useful information about the book content and the spiritual life of Rumi. The illustrations are carefully chosen and relevantly placed giving you a persian medeivial aura. Rumi was a great sufi poet who lived in the golden age of the Islamic civilization. His poetry is a guide to spirituality and wisdom. It is deep,simply-written and interesting. Anyone who reads this book will enjoy it.
The Illustrated Rumi : A Treasury of Wisdom from the Poet of the Soul.......2006-07-01
a masterpiece!!!
Inspiring, contemplative, rich.......2005-10-10
This book is beautiful if only for the artwork, but couple that with the unique parables of Rumi and this is a rich treasury to be enjoyed and savored.
Common heritage of mankind.......2005-05-25
The ultimate source of Rumi`s work is the original work of Mathnawi, in Persian, it has a delicate taste of poetic dimension too, but even without the poetic contribution, Richard A. Nicholson has translated all the 6 volumes of Mathnawi with an excellent translation, eloquent, lovely and elegant. Rumi is an ocean, "The illustrated Rumi" is a very nice sampling taken from these six volumes. The illustrations are taken from the early islamic art, most of which, one has to remind himself, were performed bofore the Renaissance. It has a taste of Arabic Nights in the pictures, what is more important though is the quality of the samples. Nicholson has the best work accomplished, and I recommend it to anybody, to me that book deserves to be written with gold and silver. Still Illustrated Rumi will give an idea of Rumi, especially with the wonderful introduction of Huston Smith, who himself is a leader in religious studies, this book is like cream de la cream of Matnawi as an introduction. The book is worthy of being read carefully at least once. I would recommend reading this book to those people left undecided between a foot long sandwich and a glimpse of the soul.
A Translation Worthy of the Master's Works.......2000-10-04
For those who know Rumi, here at last is a translation and presentation whose majesty match the wisdom of the message. For those who do not yet know Rumi, this exquisite book opens a window to insights that will always be treasured.
Book Description
These quatrains and odes reveal a most human and accessible side of the great poet and mystic. They are the personal records of one man's encounter with the Divine.
Customer Reviews:
Ya Azim/ Ya Majid.......2006-11-05
Here is Mevlana. In his words he lives with us, harmonizing our souls, hearts, and minds. Taking us beyond our ordinary lives into a world of transcendent knowledge filled with light and love. I have never found anyone else who comes close. Yeats, Hafiz, e.e., T.S., Kabir, Whitman, Ginsburg all wonderful but none have the level of transcendent awareness that pours through Mevlana. Thanks to Coleman's enlightened translations the words seize us with their power.
Great Rumi.......2005-09-23
This text with versions of Rumi is wonderful for its contemporary language and revelation of Rumi's insights which read as if they came out of a psychologically astute book of modern poetry. My partner and I used Quatrains # 388 and #158 in our wedding ceremony. In this thirteenth century visionary writing I once again am reminded of the ageless quality of human insight and wisdom with its imperative that we remain alert to revelation about to burst upon us. The introduction Moyne and Bark have written for it is a sweet gift as well.
"Open Secret" is a keeper!
An Open Secret but How Few Know.......2005-01-14
A lovely collection of versions of Rumi translated by the great linguistic scholar John Moyne and Coleman Barks. They are quatrains and odes and they attest to the divine. My absolute favourite has to be Ode 388:
I would love to kiss you.
The price of kissing is your life.
Now my love is running toward my life shouting,
What a bargain, let's buy it.
but for poets, Ode 1315 has to run a close second:
We've given up making a living.
It's all this crazy love poetry now.
It's everywhere. Our eyes and our feelings
focus together, with our words.
Don't pass this one by!
Beautiful poetry.......2002-12-17
This is an amazing book of poetry, the words just dance off the page. this is a good place to start if you're interested in the poetry of Rumi.
The translations are well done and don't sacrifice the emotional content of the poetry to fit the words. Give yourself or someone else a wonderful experience and read this book. You'll be very happy that you did.
A must in all collections & a beatiful introduction to Rumi........2001-07-20
The open secret, available to all but few listen. That is the feeling you get when you let these wonderful writings flow over and through you.
Some short, some longer, each writing is a treasure. The more you read (or listen if you've been fortunate to get the audio condensed version from this work) the deeper each verse becomes. I've owned the printed copy for years and every read brings new wonders and old friends.
The cream of Rumi is brought to this work and Coleman Barks does wonderful interpretations. The work as a whole weaves a tapestry that, in the end, leaves you feeling part weaver and part thread. The possibility of the "Beloved" as "Lover" becomes manifest. The drunk, intoxicated by the bliss of the presence of God, overflows with sacred wine and wants to dance. The sharing of a deep spiritual presence at dawn with those nearest you becomes a yearning that you want each and every day.
This book is a cornerstone in the rediscovery of Rumi and Islam for that matter. It provides a glimpse, from the lovers' point of view, into a world traditionally dominated by the warrior spirit.
After reading you yearn for the association of others who have similar thoughts. You realize that "the pot drips what's in it" and you yearn to associate with gentle people who enjoy this book as much as you.
Certainly "Open Secret" is a must read and a must own. It is every bit worth the price and a classic in the genre.
Book Description
Mantiqu't-Tair is one of the masterpieces of Persian literature of which a complete and annotated translation into English is here presented for the first time as The Speech of the Birds. The text revolves around the decision of the birds of the world to seek out a king. Their debilitating doubts and fears, the knowing counsel of their leader Hoopoe, and their choice of the Simurgh as a king, is in reality an allegory of the spiritual path of Sufism with its demands, its hazards and its infinite rewards. The poem contains many admonitory anecdotes and exemplary stories, including numerous references to some of the early Muslim mystics such as Rabi'a al-'Adawiyya, Abu Sa'id ibn Abi'l-Khair, Mansur al-Hallaj and Shibli, among others. In The Speech of the Birds, Peter Avery has not only given us a precise and moving translation, but also ample annotation providing much information to fill in what Attar would have expected his readers to know. The result is a fascinating insight into a remarkable aspect of Islam: the world of ecstatic love of the Persian mystics. The Speech of the Birds will be of interest to everyone who values great literature, as well as to all students of Persian and Sufism.
Customer Reviews:
Best Farsi English Dictionary I've used........2007-01-19
This is the best dictionary of the 5 or 6 Farsi to English dictionaries I've come across. Obviously, the more Farsi you know the easier it is to use. What I like about this dictionary the most is that it has Farsi to English and English to Farsi in one volume. Furthermore, each definition is usually followed by synonyms, related words and contextual examples, sometimes sentences utilizing the word being defined, sometimes common phrases. I don't know of any other Farsi dictionary that does that. This is also the dictionary that the U.S. military uses at the Defense Language Institute.
No Farsi Pronounciations & No verb declination.......2006-09-14
Old "French-English"", "German-English", "Italian-English" and "Spanish to English" dictionaries (even back in the 80s) had verb declinations and pronounciations in both languages. This dictionary one has no verb declinations in either language and only English Pronounciations. More helpful for Farsi readers than for English readers trying to learn Farsi. Also, In the English to Farsi section, there can be several words translating into 1 English word but there is no explanation as to the difference and when one word should be used over another.
Not perfect, but the best one out there.......2005-08-04
If you're looking to buy a Persian dictionary, and don't already know it, there's a reality you have to face. Persian-English dictionaries are a lot worse than dictionaries for most other languages.
That said, Aryanpour is the best one out there, at least for MODERN Persian. If you're dealing with medieval texts, there is no better book than Steingass.
In every Persian class I've taken, people have started out with an assortment of dictionaries, and by the end of the course most, if not all the students decided to buy Aryanpour. I think that speaks volumes for its thoroughness and ease of use.
Copies of Aryanpour that I've seen were not very well printed-- the inking is uneven, sometimes the text becomes crooked --but far from illegible.
As for organization, I'd say the Persian-English section is much better than the English-Persian. The English-Persian section gives direct translations without context (for instance, if you're looking up the word "sentence," the author does not give you any way to distinguish between the word for "prison sentence," and that meaning "a group of words"). However, whenever there are multiple meanings in the Persian-English section, the author provides generally solid context.
Two more strenghts of this book: it includes prefixes and suffixes, explains how to use them, and gives definitions for a good number of words which take them; and it includes a lot of the Arabic words commonly found in the Persian language.
My main complaint about the book, besides its weaker English-Persian section, is that it does not always include diacritical marks on Persian text, which is particularly annoying if you're looking up an English word and have to guess on the pronunciation.
One complaint I've heard about this books is that it doesn't include transliterations, like some other dictionaries. I can only agree with this insofar as I have a problem with those words where the authors decided not to include the diacritical. Otherwise, it's really the reader's responsibility to learn to read the Persian script.
The bottom line is, this is book is worth having. I wish I could say the same for the rest of the ones currently on the market.
Best I've used.......2004-04-21
This dictionary is very useful. It has thousands of entries and is written by two men, one of whom is Iranian and studied in England for years. One may have to cross-reference some words, because it is a foreign language and meanings do not exactly correspond sometimes, until you find the one that fits best.
It even gives example uses, and derivatives of usage. I challenge you to find a better one, even in Iran...
needs work.......2003-08-16
I have been using this dictionary for over a year and I hate it!A good many of the definitions don't match from one language to another. This dictionary is so very poorly organized that it is not even worth the paper it is printed on. Avoid this dictionary if you can.
Book Description
Comprehensive, accurate, complete and scholarly, and contains sufficient reading matter to enable the student to handle the language for himself.
Customer Reviews:
Old hat (kolah ye kohne).......2007-01-10
Of great interest to a philologist, handy if you plan on restricting your reading to the Shahnama, but don't waste your money on it if your aim is to learn modern Persian, either written or spoken. Buy Mace first and follow that with Thackston, and you'll be off to a good start. If you want a Lambton cheap, I'll sell you mine.
Interesting use of a classic grammar.......2005-05-18
m_jawza put in a bit of time to do a useful review of this book, which he has sadly since deleted. He'd used the book to try to learn to read and write Persian as a US-born native speaker.
He starts: "Take it from a fluent speaker [...] Lambton's book is probably NOT what you should be looking for if you want to start learning the language." And if you want to speak Persian, I agree!
Lambton's Persian Grammar is an excellent book on literary Persian. It is an academic work of the nineteen-fifties. It describes sounds well to anyone who can follow the standard linguistic descriptions (yes, it could be more accessible). It is hardly surprising that forms like 'bachegan' - traditionally the plural of 'bache', child - might confuse a speaker who doesn't know literary Persian since they no longer appear in the spoken language. But the book is teaching literary Persian, and if plurals in '-gan' aren't in, you're going to be very confused when you come to any pre-modern or very formal writing. And Lambton does indeed say that plurals in '-an' can always be replaced by plurals in '-ha' and almost always are in speech.
I think, though, that m_jawza's biggest problem is going to be that the book is fifty years old. Persian has changed a bit in the last fifty years! But by the time he finishes, he'll be able to pick up a ninteenth-century book and have a chance of understanding it (with a copy of Steingass - or the Loghat-name - for all those Arabic and out-moded words). I'm not so sure about writing, though. I wasn't very impressed with the handling of syntax. I think for that, he'd do better to use Wheeler Thackston's 'an Introduction to Persian'.
By the way, I certainly agree that she packs a lot in one lesson. I too found the definite/indefinite description unclear. Lambton's book is a very traditional teaching grammar that can double as a basic reference grammar - indeed, it is the standard grammar of written Persian. I really preferred Wheeler Thackston's approach. But I use Lambton as a reference, and it is very good for that.
If you are wanting to use Lambton for self-tuition, two points, one good and one bad. She does have a key to the exercises, which Thackston doesn't. But she doesn't have a glossary - that, expanded, is published as a different book. Both volumes, by the way, are available at a considerably lower cost in paperback editions published by Chand of New Delhi that are actually better bound than the current Cambridge editions.
BTW, m_jazwa, please do come back to your review when you've used Lambton a bit more - I for one would like to know how you get on!
For someone wanting an introduction to Persian don't bother........2000-09-12
For a scholarly detailed and obscure grammar look no further. If you want a guide to how Persian was written in the 10th century your on to a winner. For those who know Arabic, this work is comparable to Wright's grammar with little excercises and unbearably long vocabulary lists at the end of every section, followed by a collection of largely unannotated prose passages at the end of the book. The last half of the book is dedicated exclusively to explaining Arabic grammar that the student of the modern language scarcely needs. Alas I have never got that far. Every time I've picked up this tome, I've put it down again before completing Chapter 10. This book is for the advanced student only, and the more pedantic one at that. Beginners use Thackston, you won't regret it.
Excellent, but consider other titles too........2000-07-25
Ann Lambton's grammar is the standard in English, and its status is well deserved. However, it was written for scholars of Persian language and literature. The second half covers Arabic grammar as it is used in literary Persian, and there is a companion volume of vocabulary for the exercises. If the student wants to do research in Persian, this is the book to use.
Those who want to learn modern spoken and written Persian but do not plan a life of scholarly research should look at the book by Wheeler Thackston or at the second-best "Spoken Persian" (one of the Spoken Language Series). Both have sound recordings for pronunciation and both will prepare the student for conversation, newspapers and modern literature.
Do not let the price frighten you away, it is well worth it!.......2000-07-19
Not my first book on Persian Grammar but definitely my favorite for sure. I had great expectations for this book and ordered it unseen but new just from the publisher being Cambridge University Press that it would be excellent and scholarly. I was not disappointed at all. The author takes you through each letter of the Persian alphabet one by one. This gives you a grasp of words using each letter and then how to form small phrases and sentences, building as you go. I was most impressed by the texts' layout which teaches you not only the letters of the alphabet, one by one and words made from them along with their meanings. But it also teaches you how to read and write the letters and words as well in the Persian script. So you are not simply memorizing words or phrases but actually learning how they are written and spoken at the same time. I highly recommend this text for anyone seriously wishing to learn the Persian language also know as Farsi.
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