Makers of the Muslim World: Sadi The poet of Life, Love and Compassion

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Sa’di was one of greatest Persian writers of both classical prose and poetry, Sa‘di was revered in his time as a man of great wisdom and passion. Sometimes said to have lived over one hundred years, the body of his work was written in the thirteenth century. An indefatigable traveler, a mentor to the pious, and an analyst of morals both public and private, his best writing focused on the themes of physical and spiritual love. Filled with extracts of the poet’s melodious and insightful writing, and critical analysis thereof, this revealing biography examines why he was so idolised until the 1950s, and why since then he has fallen into relative obscurity. Focusing on the themes of both physical and spiritual love stitched through Sa‘di’s writing, as well as the impact of his many years traveling, Katouzian sheds a unique insight on who he calls "the poet of life, love and compassion".

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Dr Homa Katouzian is the editor of Iranian Studies and Iran Heritage FoundationResearch Fellow of St Antony’s College, Oxford University. He is author of numerous books on Iranian Literature, History and Society. Table of Contents Preface Sa’di, The Classics and The Morderns Life and Works Birth and Death Sa’di’s Poetical Signature Sa’di’s Travels Escape from School? Sa’di’s Debates? Sa’di and the Courts Works Songs of Love and Odes to Beauty The Evolution of Poetry Sa’di, Hafiz, Rumi Women And Youths Ghazals on Human Love Reality and Appearance: Mysticism and Logic Received Opinions Sufism in Sa’di’s Time Conclusion on Sa’di and Sufism Teaching Manners and Morals Education and Edification Morals The Ways of Shahs and Viziers Shahs The Transience of power and Existence Ideal Government Other-worldliness Viziers Concluding Remarks Endnotes Index.