{"product_id":"rumis-divan-of-shems-of-tabriz-james-cowan-9781852309190","title":"Rumi's Divan of Shems of Tabriz: Selected Odes | Jalaluddin Rumi \u0026 James Cowan","description":"\u003ch2\u003eRumi's Divan of Shems of Tabriz: Selected Odes | Jalal al-Din Rumi \u0026amp; James Cowan\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHow can transcendent love and mystical devotion dissolve the boundaries of the ego in classical Sufi poetry? Jalaluddin Rumi delivers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eElement Classics of World Spirituality\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Book:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDiscover the ecstatic, mystical poetry of \u003cstrong\u003eRumi \u003c\/strong\u003ein this beautifully bound 1997 Element Classics hardcover edition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterpreted by the acclaimed author and poet \u003cstrong\u003eJames Cowan\u003c\/strong\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCowan brilliantly transforms these timeless verses into spare, rhythmic English prose, capturing the unvarnished essence of Rumi's spiritual journey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike many hyper-modern paraphrases, this volume carefully respects the traditional structural rhythm of the original text, presenting the odes in their classic \u003cem\u003ebeyts \u003c\/em\u003e(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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSummary:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDivine ecstasy, mystical love, and spiritual devotion. \u003cstrong\u003eJalaluddin Rumi\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eJames Cowan\u003c\/strong\u003e present selected odes from the \u003cem\u003eDivan of Shems of Tabriz\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBook Condition:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStatus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pre-Owned\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition Grading: \u003c\/strong\u003eVery Good (Solid binding, clean pages, minimal shelf wear consistent with age. A highly collectible copy of a scarce 1997 edition.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eProduct Details:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī (Mawlānā)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTranslator \/ Interpreter: \u003c\/strong\u003eJames Cowan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e Element Books \u003cstrong\u003e(1997)\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFormat: \u003c\/strong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 152 pages\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage: \u003c\/strong\u003eEnglish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-10: \u003c\/strong\u003e1852309199\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13: \u003c\/strong\u003e9781852309190\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Authors:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJalāl al-Dīn Rūmī (1207–1273):\u003c\/strong\u003e A 13th-century Persian poet, Islamic scholar, and Sufi mystic. His masterworks, including the \u003cem\u003eDivan-i Kabir\u003c\/em\u003e, 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJames Cowan (1942–2018): \u003c\/strong\u003eAn 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions About \u003cem\u003eRumi's Divan of Shems of Tabriz\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQ: \u003c\/strong\u003eIs this version translated directly from the original Persian?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA: \u003c\/strong\u003eNo. 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQ: \u003c\/strong\u003eWhy does the cover say \"Shems\" instead of \"Shams\"?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA: \u003c\/strong\u003eThey are the exact same historical figure. \"Shams\" is the traditional Persian\/Arabic spelling (meaning \"Sun\"), while \"Shems\" is the Turkish spelling (\u003cem\u003eŞems\u003c\/em\u003e). 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 \u003cem\u003eShams of Tabriz\u003c\/em\u003e or \u003cem\u003eShems of Tabriz\u003c\/em\u003e refers to the same spiritual companion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQ: \u003c\/strong\u003eHow does Cowan’s translation compare to Coleman Barks?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA: \u003c\/strong\u003eWhile 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 \u003cem\u003ebeyts \u003c\/em\u003e(couplets) structure of the original odes, making this edition more relevant for readers who want to experience the rhythmic format Rumi actually intended.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQ: \u003c\/strong\u003eIs this book the same as Rumi's \u003cem\u003eMathnawi\u003c\/em\u003e?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA:\u003c\/strong\u003e No. Rumi wrote two massive, distinct poetic works. The \u003cem\u003eMathnawi \u003c\/em\u003eis his long book of spiritual couplets and teaching stories. This book, the \u003cem\u003eDivan\u003c\/em\u003e, is his collection of ecstatic, raw lyric love poems and odes specifically dedicated to his teacher, Shams.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGet Your Copy!\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore the transcendent lyrical masterpieces of Persian mysticism and Sufi devotion. Tap to discover \u003cem\u003eRumi's Divan of Shems of Tabriz\u003c\/em\u003e today!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bust-Down Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51009943929147,"sku":"1852309199","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0855\/2077\/7531\/files\/9781852309190.jpg?v=1788105394","url":"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/rumis-divan-of-shems-of-tabriz-james-cowan-9781852309190","provider":"Bust-Down Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}