Sadi: A Daybook

By Saadi

*SADI* A Daybook Translation & Introduction by Paul Smith Sadi of Shiraz, along with Hafiz, Nizami & Rumi is considered one of the great mystical and romantic poets of Persia. His masterpieces, The Rose Garden and The Bustan (Orchard) have been a major influence in the East and West for the past 700 years. His Divan of ghazals are still much loved. His ruba'is have also been an influence on the poets that followed him. Here is a Daybook with a selection of 366 poems from his ghazals, ruba'is and masnavis. Introduction includes his Life and Times and Poetry. There is also a Selected Bibliography. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept as well as the beauty and meaning of these beautiful, inspirational and spiritual poems. A Daybook to remember each day. 394 pages. COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'."It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished. If he comes to Iran I will kiss the fingertips that wrote such a masterpiece inspired by the Creator of all." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of many mystical works in English into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. "Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz." Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author). Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Mu'in, Amir Khusrau, Lalla Ded, Mahsati and many others, as well as poetry, fiction, plays, children's books, biographies and a dozen screenplays. amazon.com/author/smithpa

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1482312018
• ISBN13: 9781482312010
• Release Date: January 2013
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 1.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Translation

I was so excited to get this book, and my disappointment began as soon as I opened it. I realize it’s a devotional, but double-spacing, centering and fancy typeface don’t reassure me of its literary seriousness. The real kicker is the slavish rhyming. You cannot use end rhymes in English (especially Latinate words like the rappers do or short Anglo-Saxon words as in doggerel.) It just doesn’t work especially with short lines. I myself am a translator as well as a poet. I don’t know Persian. But I have translated from French and Russian. You can’t end-rhyme in English even if the poems in these languages do and convey any degree of seriousness. The translation must first and foremost capture the spirit of the work. It must be good poetry in English too. My Persian friend was disappointed also. If you’re not a serious student of mystical Islam, if you’re not a literary type like me, I suppose…