Rumi's Divan of Shems of Tabriz: Selected Odes | Jalaluddin Rumi & James Cowan

Rumi's Divan of Shems of Tabriz: Selected Odes | Jalal al-Din Rumi & James Cowan

How can transcendent love and mystical devotion dissolve the boundaries of the ego in classical Sufi poetry? Jalaluddin Rumi delivers.

Element Classics of World Spirituality

About the Book:

Discover the ecstatic, mystical poetry of Rumi in this beautifully bound 1997 Element Classics hardcover edition.

Interpreted by the acclaimed author and poet James Cowan, this collection brings to life the profound spiritual romance between the legendary Sufi mystic Jalal al-Din Rumi and his wandering mentor, Shams of Tabriz.

Cowan brilliantly transforms these timeless verses into spare, rhythmic English prose, capturing the unvarnished essence of Rumi's spiritual journey.

Unlike many hyper-modern paraphrases, this volume carefully respects the traditional structural rhythm of the original text, presenting the odes in their classic beyts (couplets). Complete with an insightful introduction on Sufi philosophy, this book is an essential addition for collectors, poetry lovers, and spiritual seekers looking for structural relevance and cultural accuracy.

Summary:

Divine ecstasy, mystical love, and spiritual devotion. Jalaluddin Rumi and James Cowan present selected odes from the Divan of Shems of Tabriz.

Book Condition:

• Status: Pre-Owned
• Condition Grading: Very Good (Solid binding, clean pages, minimal shelf wear consistent with age. A highly collectible copy of a scarce 1997 edition.)

Product Details:

• Author: Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī (Mawlānā)
• Translator / Interpreter: James Cowan
• Publisher: Element Books (1997)
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 152 pages
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1852309199
• ISBN-13: 9781852309190

About the Authors:

• Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī (1207–1273): A 13th-century Persian poet, Islamic scholar, and Sufi mystic. His masterworks, including the Divan-i Kabir, have transcended centuries to make him one of the best-selling and most deeply beloved poets worldwide. His verses explore the shattering and transformative power of divine love, longing, and spiritual union.
• James Cowan (1942–2018): An internationally acclaimed Australian author, poet, and novelist awarded the prestigious Australian Literature Society’s Gold Medal. Known for spending decades studying global spiritual traditions—from North African Berbers to Australian Aboriginal culture—Cowan specialized in rendering mystical texts into clean, striking, contemporary English verse.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rumi's Divan of Shems of Tabriz:

• Q: Is this version translated directly from the original Persian?
  A: No. James Cowan worked by transforming literal, academic English translations (primarily those by the legendary 20th-century scholar Reynold Nicholson) into flowing, poetic prose-verse. This makes it highly readable while remaining anchored to scholarly, literal interpretations.
• Q: Why does the cover say "Shems" instead of "Shams"?
  A: They are the exact same historical figure. "Shams" is the traditional Persian/Arabic spelling (meaning "Sun"), while "Shems" is the Turkish spelling (Şems). Because Rumi lived and taught in Konya (modern-day Turkey), this 1997 Element edition honors the regional Turkish spelling on its cover. Searching for either Shams of Tabriz or Shems of Tabriz refers to the same spiritual companion.
• Q: How does Cowan’s translation compare to Coleman Barks?
  A: While Coleman Barks is famous for free-verse, highly Americanized interpretations that completely remove traditional structures, James Cowan takes a more disciplined approach. Cowan preserves the traditional beyts (couplets) structure of the original odes, making this edition more relevant for readers who want to experience the rhythmic format Rumi actually intended.
• Q: Is this book the same as Rumi's Mathnawi?
  A: No. Rumi wrote two massive, distinct poetic works. The Mathnawi is his long book of spiritual couplets and teaching stories. This book, the Divan, is his collection of ecstatic, raw lyric love poems and odes specifically dedicated to his teacher, Shams.

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