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The Book of Abu Nuwas
THE BOOK OF ABU NUWAS
Translation & Introduction Paul Smith
Abu Nuwas (757-814) was the most famous and infamous poet who composed in Arabic of the Abbasid era. His style was extravagant and his compositions reflected the licentious manners of the upper classes of his day. His father was Arab and his mother was Persian. As a youth he was sold into slavery; a wealthy benefactor later set him free. By the time he reached manhood he had settled in Baghdad and was composing poetry. It was at this time, because of his long hair, he acquired the name Abu Nuwas (Father of Ringlets). Gradually he attracted the attention of Harun al-Rashid and was given quarters at court. His ability as a poet no doubt was one reason for Abu Nuwas’ success with the caliph, but after a while he became known as a reprobate and participated in less reputable pastimes with the ruler. He spent time in Egypt but soon returned to Baghdad to live out his remaining years. It is said he lived the last part of his life as a Sufi and some of his poems reflect this. He is popular today, perhaps more so than he ever was, as a kind of comic anti-hero in many Muslim countries. His poems consist of qit’as (of which he was the first master) ghazals and qasidas. His poems could be classified into: praises (of nobles and caliphs & famous people), mockeries, jokes, complaints, love of men and women, wine, hunting, laments, asceticism. All forms are here in the true meaning & rhyme structure. Introduction on his Life, Times & Poetry and forms he composed in and two appendixes of some of the stories about him in the Arabian Nights and elsewhere. Large Format Paperback 7” x 10” 196 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. ” Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran.
“Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith.” Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator works in English into Persian and knower of Hafiz’s Divan off by heart.
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, Mu’in, Amir Khusrau, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Omar Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Mahsati, Lalla Ded, Bulleh Shah, Shah Latif, Makhfi, Iqbal, Dara Shikoh, Ghalib and many others, as well as his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children’s books and a dozen screenplays.
www.newhumanitybooks.com
Translation & Introduction Paul Smith
Abu Nuwas (757-814) was the most famous and infamous poet who composed in Arabic of the Abbasid era. His style was extravagant and his compositions reflected the licentious manners of the upper classes of his day. His father was Arab and his mother was Persian. As a youth he was sold into slavery; a wealthy benefactor later set him free. By the time he reached manhood he had settled in Baghdad and was composing poetry. It was at this time, because of his long hair, he acquired the name Abu Nuwas (Father of Ringlets). Gradually he attracted the attention of Harun al-Rashid and was given quarters at court. His ability as a poet no doubt was one reason for Abu Nuwas’ success with the caliph, but after a while he became known as a reprobate and participated in less reputable pastimes with the ruler. He spent time in Egypt but soon returned to Baghdad to live out his remaining years. It is said he lived the last part of his life as a Sufi and some of his poems reflect this. He is popular today, perhaps more so than he ever was, as a kind of comic anti-hero in many Muslim countries. His poems consist of qit’as (of which he was the first master) ghazals and qasidas. His poems could be classified into: praises (of nobles and caliphs & famous people), mockeries, jokes, complaints, love of men and women, wine, hunting, laments, asceticism. All forms are here in the true meaning & rhyme structure. Introduction on his Life, Times & Poetry and forms he composed in and two appendixes of some of the stories about him in the Arabian Nights and elsewhere. Large Format Paperback 7” x 10” 196 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. ” Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran.
“Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith.” Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator works in English into Persian and knower of Hafiz’s Divan off by heart.
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, Mu’in, Amir Khusrau, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Omar Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Mahsati, Lalla Ded, Bulleh Shah, Shah Latif, Makhfi, Iqbal, Dara Shikoh, Ghalib and many others, as well as his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children’s books and a dozen screenplays.
www.newhumanitybooks.com
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 2015
About the author
Paul Smith
1,370 books21 followersPaul^^^Smith
Paul Smith (Born 1945) has been translating and writing books and film-scripts and plays for the past 45 years. His Divan of Hafiz is recognised as the closest and most beautiful translation. His other books include… Hafiz: The Oracle, Hafiz of Shiraz (3 volumes), Ruba’iyat of Hafiz, 700 Sayings of Kabir, Ruba’iyat of Sadi, Ruba’iyat of Rumi, Rumi: Selected Poems, Divan of Sadi, Nizami: Layla and Majnun, Nizami: Treasury of the Mysteries, Obeyd Zakani: The Dervish Joker, Obeyd Zakani’s Mouse & Cat, Hafiz’s Friend: Jahan Khatun, Piercing Pearls: The Complete Anthology of Persian Poetry (2 vols.), Princesses, Sufis, Dervishes, Martyrs and Feminists: Seven Great Women Poets of the East, Makhfi: The Princess Sufi Poet Zeb-un-Nissa,The Sufi Ruba’iyat: An Anthology, The Sufi Ghazal: An Anthology, The Ruba’iyat: A World Anthology, The Ghazal: A World Anthology, The Divine Wine: A Treasury of Sufi & Dervish Poetry (2 vols.), The Masnavi: A World Anthology, Unity in Diversity: Anthology of Sufi Poets of Indian Sub-Continent, Tongues on Fire: Anthology of the Poets of Afghanistan, Wine, Blood & Roses: Anthology of Turkish Poets, Love’s Agony & Bliss: Anthology of Urdu Poetry, Hearts With Wings: Anthology of Persian Sufi & Dervish Poetry, Breezes of Truth: Selected Arabic Sufi Poetry, Ibn al-Farid: Wine & The Mystic’s Progress, Anthology of Classical Arabic Poetry, The Qit’a: Anthology of the ‘Fragment’ in Arabic, Persian & Eastern Poetry, Ruba’iyat of Ma’arri, The Qasida: A World Anthology, Huma: Selected Poetry of Meher Baba, Ruba’iyat of Abu Sa’id, The Poets of Shiraz,Ruba’iyat of Mahsati, Ruba’iyat of Khayyam, Ruba’iyat of Sana’i, Ruba’iyat of Jahan Khatun, Ruba’iyat of ‘Attar, ‘Attar: Selected Poetry, Ruba’iyat of Jami, Ruba’iyat of Kamal ad-din, Ruba’iyat of Auhad ud-din, Yunus Emre… Turkish Dervish: Selected Poems, Ruba’iyat of Sarmad, Hafiz: The Ugly Little Boy who became a Great Poet, The Healer and the Emperor, The First Mystery, The Master, the Muse & the Poet: An Autobiography in Poetry, The Greatest Game, Pan of the Never-Never, Pune: The City of God, Compassionate Rose, and others.
Paul Smith (Born 1945) has been translating and writing books and film-scripts and plays for the past 45 years. His Divan of Hafiz is recognised as the closest and most beautiful translation. His other books include… Hafiz: The Oracle, Hafiz of Shiraz (3 volumes), Ruba’iyat of Hafiz, 700 Sayings of Kabir, Ruba’iyat of Sadi, Ruba’iyat of Rumi, Rumi: Selected Poems, Divan of Sadi, Nizami: Layla and Majnun, Nizami: Treasury of the Mysteries, Obeyd Zakani: The Dervish Joker, Obeyd Zakani’s Mouse & Cat, Hafiz’s Friend: Jahan Khatun, Piercing Pearls: The Complete Anthology of Persian Poetry (2 vols.), Princesses, Sufis, Dervishes, Martyrs and Feminists: Seven Great Women Poets of the East, Makhfi: The Princess Sufi Poet Zeb-un-Nissa,The Sufi Ruba’iyat: An Anthology, The Sufi Ghazal: An Anthology, The Ruba’iyat: A World Anthology, The Ghazal: A World Anthology, The Divine Wine: A Treasury of Sufi & Dervish Poetry (2 vols.), The Masnavi: A World Anthology, Unity in Diversity: Anthology of Sufi Poets of Indian Sub-Continent, Tongues on Fire: Anthology of the Poets of Afghanistan, Wine, Blood & Roses: Anthology of Turkish Poets, Love’s Agony & Bliss: Anthology of Urdu Poetry, Hearts With Wings: Anthology of Persian Sufi & Dervish Poetry, Breezes of Truth: Selected Arabic Sufi Poetry, Ibn al-Farid: Wine & The Mystic’s Progress, Anthology of Classical Arabic Poetry, The Qit’a: Anthology of the ‘Fragment’ in Arabic, Persian & Eastern Poetry, Ruba’iyat of Ma’arri, The Qasida: A World Anthology, Huma: Selected Poetry of Meher Baba, Ruba’iyat of Abu Sa’id, The Poets of Shiraz,Ruba’iyat of Mahsati, Ruba’iyat of Khayyam, Ruba’iyat of Sana’i, Ruba’iyat of Jahan Khatun, Ruba’iyat of ‘Attar, ‘Attar: Selected Poetry, Ruba’iyat of Jami, Ruba’iyat of Kamal ad-din, Ruba’iyat of Auhad ud-din, Yunus Emre… Turkish Dervish: Selected Poems, Ruba’iyat of Sarmad, Hafiz: The Ugly Little Boy who became a Great Poet, The Healer and the Emperor, The First Mystery, The Master, the Muse & the Poet: An Autobiography in Poetry, The Greatest Game, Pan of the Never-Never, Pune: The City of God, Compassionate Rose, and others.
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