Sa'di : the poet of life, love and compassion / Homa Katouzian.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Katouzian, Homa.

Contributor:

James A. Crawford Memorial Fund.

Series:

Makers of the Muslim world

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sa°dåi.

Poets, Persian--Biography.

Poets, Persian.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

ix, 158 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oneworld, [2006]

Summary:

Sa'di was one of the greatest Persian writers of both classical prose and poetry, and was revered in his time as a man of great wisdom and passion. Sometimes said to have lived over one hundred years, the body of his work was written in the thirteenth century. An indefatigable traveller, a mentor to the pious, and an analyst of morals both public and private, his best writing focused on the themes of physical and spiritual love.

Lavishly interspersed with extracts and critical analyses of the poet's enchanting verse, Katouzian explores Sa'di's place beside Rumi and Hafiz, Persia's other great poets. With a comprehensive guide to further reading, and including fascinating background about Sa'di's eventful life, this decisive biography offers a unique insight into the aptly-named 'poet of life, love and compassion.'

Contents:

1 Sa'di, the Classics and the Moderns 1

2 Life and Works 9

Birth and Death 10

Sa'di's Poetical Signature 12

Sa'di's Travels 13

Escape from School? 17

Sa'di's Debates? 18

Sa'di and the Courts 22

Works 25

3 Songs of Love and Odes to Beauty 35

The Evolution of Poetry 36

Sa'di, Hafiz, Rumi 38

Women and Youths 42

Ghazals on Human Love 50

4 Reality and Appearance: Mysticism and Logic 71

Received Opinions 71

Sufism in Sa'di's Time 74

Conclusion on Sa'di and Sufism 87

5 Teaching Manners and Morals 89

Education and Edification 91

Morals 94

6 The Ways of Shahs and Viziers 117

Shahs 119

The Transience of Power and Existence 123

Ideal Government 125

Other-worldliness 129

Viziers 135.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 151-154) and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the James A. Crawford Memorial Fund.

ISBN:

1851684735

9781851684731

OCLC:

70173868