Retold in award-winning writer Kamla K. Kapur’s elegant, flowing language, Rumi’s tales of wisdom and humanity are given fresh life in this modern masterpiece.
Tales of the Spirit is a sweet, comforting, and at times, fiery guide to nourishing the spirit. In a hopeful but pragmatic tone, timeless storyteller Rumi and award-winning author and playwright Kamla Kapur guide us through the trials of life and teach us to embrace suffering, to pray even when it feels hopeless, and ultimately, to surrender to the cosmic will. In twelve fresh and powerful tales of wisdom, we learn to trust in ourselves and in the universe, experience joy in good times and bad, and find the strength to persevere through life’s struggles.
Kapur has been studying Rumi for twenty years. Through her detailed analysis of his life and work and her own understanding of the human condition and the present-day literary scene, Kapur brings new life to these centuries-old stories while staying true to their roots in Rumi’s time and place. These retellings convey Rumi’s deep insight on the human condition and bring to light the vast and subtle meanings of his stories that are often lost in translation. Through this work, we see that people around the world and across time have always been connected by the hopes, dreams, and inner struggles that make up the human experience.
Personal, poignant, and woven with fierce passion for life and the divine, Tales of the Spirit will leave you with heart-wrenching gratitude for life’s trials and gifts.
Incredibly enlighting. The retellings are easy to follow, entertaining, but have deep meanings. I was immersed since the first story, and it was followed by equally amazing retellings. Altough I disagree with some details when the author explains the stories after they end, I got her point. I took it easy with this book and meditated after each of the tales, internalizing their teachings and picturing myself in each of them. I'm in love.
I really enjoyed all the stories but sometimes didn't vibe with the author's interpretations of the stories. Overall, a very quick read for me. A beautiful book that tells stories from a poet who can capture your heart with a sentence.
At first, I thought, I already read these tales in Kapur's other book. But this book contains valuable reflections on the different stories. Really enjoyed it.