The Divan-I-Hafiz (Classics of Persian Literature, 3) (Classics of Persian Literature, 3) (Classics of Persian Literature, 3)

The Divan-i Hafiz is a complete unabridged translation of all of the Hafiz s poetry into English. It is accompanied by extensive notes, a biography, a new introduction and a concordance. As the most popular translation of Hafiz into English, it has variously been described as: accurate, erudite, accessible, faithful and the most respected translation of Hafiz into English.

Unlike other translations, which are more about the translator than about Hafiz, H. Wilberforce-Clarke s word-by-word translation fully conveys the Persian original. For this reason, many modern poets who did not know Persian use this work to bring Hafiz to the English reader. Among others, Elizabeth Gray, Michael Boylan and Thomas Rain Crowe and Daniel Ladinsky come to mind.

The 693 poems in this volume include every ghazal, rubai, qita , masnavi, the saqinameh, the moghaninameh, qasaid, and mokhamas. Included are a biography of the Hafiz; a description of other translations; an index of the people referred to; and an index of the figures of speech used. There are also more than 2,300 detailed notes explaining practically every line of the poems. The notes are based on Mohammad Sudi s authoritative commentary. The introduction by Professor Michael Hillmann, a scholar of Hafiz at the University of Texas, introduces the translation and the historical and literary characteristics of the Hafiz s poetry.

The Divan-i Hafiz includes a table which matches the English translation to the original Persian. The reader can see that poem 248 in Wilberforce-Clarke is poem 183 in the Khanlari edition or poem 180 in the Ghazvini edition. This, along with the translation and the notes can be of great help to the student of Persian or anyone wishing to better understand the Persian language s most beloved writer.

This 1096 page large-format book is manufactured in the United States on easy-to-read cream paper with a cloth hard-cover, a dust-jacket, reinforced binding and is shrink-wrapped. The paper used is acid-free which will not age with time. It is an ideal way of introducing the mystery of Hafiz to the non-Persian speaker.