Persian Poetry

Dick Davis—“our pre-eminent translator from the Persian” (The Washington Post)—has revised and expanded his acclaimed translation of Ferdowsi’s masterpiece, adding more than 100 pages of newly translated text. Davis’s elegant combination of prose and verse allows the poetry of the Shahnameh to sing its own tales directly, interspersed sparingly with clearly marked explanations to ease along modern audiences.

This masterful translation brings legendary heroes, tragic destinies, sweeping romances, colossal monsters, and fearless warriors vividly to life, unfolding a mythic saga that spans thousands of years. Originally composed as an 11th-century epic poem, Shahnameh endures as one of the world’s greatest masterpieces of mythology and storytelling. Performed by award-winning voice actor Marc Thompson and enriched with evocative sound design by Hamid Rahmanian, creator of the Shahnameh Project, this theatrical audiobook is truly cinema for the ear.

An anthology of verse by women poets writing in Persian, most of whom have never been translated into English before, from acclaimed scholar and translator Dick Davis. The Mirror of My Heart is a unique and captivating collection of eighty-three Persian women poets, many of whom wrote...

Discover the beauty and depth of Forugh Farrokhzad's poetry in this carefully curated collection featuring 12 poignant poems, each accompanied by English translations. This unique book offers language learners the chance to enhance their Farsi vocabulary, verbs, and phrases while enjoying the lyrical artistry of one of Iran's most celebrated poets. Each poem is followed by engaging exercises to reinforce understanding, with text including diacritics for vowel clarity. Additionally, a comprehensive answer key and word list, along with Farsi translations, provide essential support for ...

A stunning portrait of the magnificent splendor of ancient Persia and its enduring legacies for today's Iran. “A brilliant feat of resurrection.” -Tom Holland, author of Dominion The Achaemenid Persian kings ruled over the largest empire of antiquity, stretching from Libya to the steppes of...

Reed Flute Poem, Nay-Nameh Transliteration, English Translation and Explanation by Gabriel Iqbal from the Original Poem in Persian The preface of Jalāl ad-Dīn Rūmī's, Masnavi-ye-Ma'navi The Spiritual Couplets (Bayts) titled Nay-Nameh, The Reed Flute Poem, consists of 35 couplets, with the first 18 holding particular significance. Transliteration: Persian to Latin Script with Macrons Jalāl ad-Dīn Rūmī (30 September 1207 – 17 December 1273 - 66 years) is not just a poet - he is a timeless companion, a luminous healer, and a celestial guide, lingering in the unseen, lifting us beyond...

The Persian epic that inspired Eric Clapton's unforgettable love song "Layla" and that Lord Byron called "the Romeo and Juliet of the East," in a masterly new translation The iconic love story of the Middle East, by a twelfth-century Persian poet who has been compared to Shakespeare for his...

Prepare to be transported into the thunderous sweep of Persian history. This section of Shahnameh (Chapters 16-27 in Shahnameh: The Epic of the Persian Kings) moves from myth to history, chronicling the dramatic rise of the Sassanian dynasty and its eventual fall. Through masterful storytelling, the epic brings to life royal ambition, political intrigue, heroic resistance, and cultural transformation—culminating in the Arab conquest of Iran in the seventh century. Performed by award-winning voice actor Marc Thompson, this performative audiobook places you at the heart of the action.

If you want to discover the captivating history of Iran, then listen to these five captivating manuscripts in one audiobook: Achaemenid Empire, Parthian Empire, Sasanian Empire, The Safavid Empire, and The Afsharid and Qajar Dynasty, will help you learn more about the history of Iran.

Kamran Esfahani, a dentist living out a dreary existence in Stockholm, agrees to spy for the Mossad after he’s recruited by Arik Glitzman, the chief of a clandestine unit tasked with running targeted assassinations and sabotage inside Iran. At Glitzman’s direction, Kam returns to his native Tehran and opens a dental practice there, using it as a cover for the Israeli intelligence agency. Kam proves to be a skillful asset, quietly earning money helping Glitzman smuggle weapons, run surveillance, and conduct kidnappings.

“Gripping and suspenseful . . . Child ratchets up the suspense to new heights.”—The Denver Post Jack Reacher lives for the moment. Without a home. Without commitment. And with a burning desire to right wrongs—and rewrite his own agonizing past. DEA Susan Duffy is living for the future...

In the fifth century BC, a global superpower was determined to bring truth and order to what it regarded as two terrorist states. The superpower was Persia, incomparably rich in ambition, gold, and men. The terrorist states were Athens and Sparta, eccentric cities in a poor and mountainous backwater: Greece. The story of how their citizens took on the Great King of Persia, and thereby saved not only themselves, but Western civilization as well, is as heart-stopping and fateful as any episode in history.

This revised and expanded edition of The Essential Rumi includes a new introduction by Coleman Barks and more than 80 never-before-published poems. Through his lyrical translations, Coleman Barks has been instrumental in bringing this exquisite literature to a remarkably wide range of listeners, making the ecstatic, spiritual poetry of 13th-century Sufi mystic Rumi more popular than ever. 

The best-selling author of Alice’s Tulips and other popular novels, Sandra Dallas exhibits a well-honed talent for evoking the past. In The Persian Pickle Club, Dallas transports listeners to 1930s Kansas, where a club of quilters welcomes a new member—and then must turn to each other for support when a startling secret comes to light.

Seeking to depose his brother Artaxerxes and take his place upon the Persian throne, Cyrus the Younger leads the 10,000 mercenaries on a dangerous campaign deep into the heart of Persia. There, Cyrus is killed and his generals overthrown, leaving a young Xenophon to lead the army on its treacherous journey home. Snowy mountains, wide rivers, violent blizzards, and hostile tribes obstruct their way, testing Xenophon's leadership and his soldiers' perseverance to the extreme.

Explore the timeless wisdom of Rumi's poetry. This collection of his most famous quotes on love, life, and the soul offers profound insights for modern readers. Discover why the 13th-century Sufi mystic continues to inspire millions. Find your path to inner peace and spiritual growth through Rumi's words. Rumi Quotes: 100 Sufi Gems is the definitive companion for those seeking illumination and spiritual solace. Jalāl al-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī’s verses have transcended cultures and centuries, becoming a powerful source of inspiration for seekers worldwide. This essential collection presents...

You have been a stranger to yourself your entire life. This book is the way home. Eight hundred years ago, in a mountain village in central Persia, a philosopher named Baba Afzal Kashani wrote a quietly revolutionary sentence: the self you are searching for is not lost. It was never lost. It has been here, watching, the whole time -- and it is larger than you ever imagined. Almost no one has heard of him. He worked in Persian, not Arabic, in a time when that was a radical act of democratization. He wrote philosophy as poetry and poetry as philosophy. He refused the courts of kings in favor ...

Ecstatic Sufi Poetry Comes Alive To fully experience the ecstatic poetry of the Middle and Near East, you must hear it as originally intended: stirred ablaze by inspired music and rhythms before a live audience. On I Want Burning, Coleman Barks fuses his passionate scholarship with a deep...

Acclaimed translator Dick Davis breathes new life into the timeless works of three masters of 14th-century Persian literature Together, Hafez, a giant of world literature; Jahan Malek Khatun, an eloquent princess; and Obayd-e Zakani, a dissolute satirist, represent one of the most remarkable...

Are you drawn to the beauty of Persian poetry and possess an upper-intermediate understanding of Farsi? If so, this book offers a delightful opportunity for both enjoyment and learning. Within this captivating collection of Sohrab Sepehri's poems, each verse is meticulously annotated with diacritics for vowels, accompanied by vocabulary lists and comprehension exercises designed to enrich your learning experience.The exercises are crafted to deepen your comprehension of each poem while expanding your knowledge of literal meanings and expressions. Delve into our curated "Quotes" section for ...