3 Review(s)

The Essential Rumi is an enthralling collection of several poems written by Rumi and translated by Coleman Barks. Summary of The Book The Essential Rumi is a captivating book that includes some of the best works by a very popular Persian poet named Rumi. His poems have the ability to evoke emotions of love and romance in the hearts of his readers. In this book, the translators have chosen some of the best poems of Rumi and compiled them to create this book, which is often considered to be one of the best collections of Rumi’s poems. This book has sold more copies than any other book that contains Rumi’s works. Each poem in this book helps to create a vivid picture in the mind of the reader. The choice of words is excellent and helps to bring out the romantic side in every individual. The readers might find some poems more enjoyable than the rest. However, the fact remains that all of the poems in conjunction, help to create a virtual art gallery in the mind of the reader, owing to the fact that they are so rich in emotions and descriptions. This book has been read by numerous people all over the world and is definitely worth a read for those who are captivated by the works of this famous Persian poet. About Coleman Barks The author of this book Coleman Barks, is also a renowned poet, who has interpreted Rumi as well as other mystic Persian poets. Some of the notable works of the author include A Year With Rumi, Rumi The Big Red Book, The Illuminated Rumi and This Longing: Poetry, Teaching Stories, and Letters of Rumi. Barks is extremely famous for his translations of Rumi’s writings as well as his own poetry. Since the year 1977, the author has been a follower of Sufism. The author hails from Chattanooga, Tennessee, and he completed his schooling from Baylor School. Following that, he attended the University of North Carolina as well as the University of California, Berkeley. After that, he worked at the University of Georgia, teaching literature for 30 years. In the year 2006, the author was awarded with an honorary Ph.D. degree from Tehran University. He currently resides in Athens, Georgia. He has two children and four grandkids.