The Conference of the Birds (Penguin Classics edition)
The acclaimed translation of a magnificent work of Persian poetry—now updated with new material\ Composed in the twelfth century in northeastern Iran, Farid Attar’s great mystical poem is among the most significant of all works of Persian literature. A marvelous, allegorical rendering of the Islamic doctrine of Sufism, it describes the pilgrimage of the world’s birds in search of their ideal king, the Simorgh bird, and the arduous journey they take to reach him. This masterly translation...
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Conference Of The Birds is one of the great works of world literature. In this new reissue of C. S. Nott's classic prose translation, this epic poem explores the nature of the spiritual path through an allegory of the brave birds who go in search of their king through the valleys of exultation and despair that represent the stages of the seeker as he travels toward enlightenment. Interspersed throughout their journey are timeless tales of prophets and kings, saints and sinners, lovers and scoundrels.Farid ud-Din Attar was the predecessor of the great Persian Sufi poet Jalalludin Rumi. They are reputed to have met when Rumi was a boy. Rumi obviously found much inspiration in Attar and uses the same technique of weaving wisdom within entertaining and amusing tales.
Translated with an Introduction by Afkham Darbandi and Dick Davis\ Introduction The Conference of the Birds Biographical Index
