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

From Booklist
Seven centuries after his death, Jalal al-Din Rumi is enjoying a heck of a comeback. The poet laureate of Sufism, Rumi's innovations proved so fundamental that his style and language continue to be imitated throughout the Islamic world. And he has been cited as a great mystic by no less an authority than Mike D of the Beastie Boys. Far beyond what the quotable snippets of his poetry in self-help tomes and love anthologies indicate, he was a magnificent poet, acclaimed by kings and vagabonds alike in his lifetime. Although there is little new insight in Wines' Spiritual Biography , and it lacks the depth of Annemarie Schimmel's 1992 effort, her vivid, well-researched portrait of the poet is the first life of Rumi in English that is intended for the general readership Rumi cared most to have. In particular, she breathes life into one of the great Platonic love stories of all time, that of Rumi and his muse Shams, an old and dirty dervish. John Green
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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.

About the Author
Philip Dunn and Manuela Dunn Mascetti have created and authored many bestselling volumes, including Huston Smith's Illustrated World's Religions, Professor Stephen Hawking's The Illustrated A Brief History of Time, Thomas Moore's The Illustrated Care of the Soul, plus their own works, which include The Buddha Box, Kama Sutra: The Erotic Art of Love, Ganesha: Remover of Obstacles, and many more.

FROM THE PUBLISHER