
The Conference of the Birds
Farid Attar(Author)
Penguin Classics (Publisher)
Published on 29. March 1984
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-0-14-044434-6 (ISBN)
Description
Composed in the twelfth century in north-eastern Iran, Attar's great mystical poem is among the most significant of all works of Persian literature. A marvellous, allegorical rendering of the Islamic doctrine of Sufism - an esoteric system concerned with the search for truth through God - it describes the consequences of the conference of the birds of the world when they meet to begin the search for their ideal king, the Simorgh bird. On hearing that to find him they must undertake an arduous journey, the birds soon express their reservations to their leader, the hoopoe. With eloquence and insight, however, the hoopoe calms their fears, using a series of riddling parables to provide guidance in the search for spiritual truth. By turns witty and profound, The Conference of the Birds transforms deep belief into magnificent poetry.
Reviews / Votes
"This felicitous translation is a classic and reaches the widest possible audience." - David Azzolina, Assistant Professor, University of PennsylvaniaMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Penguin Books Ltd
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
227 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-14-044434-6 (9780140444346)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Farid Attar
The Conference of the Birds
E-Book
03/2005
1st Edition
Penguin Books Ltd
€9.49
Available for download
Persons
Dick Davis is an English-American poet and translator. Before the Islamic Revolution, Davis lived in Iran and taught English at the University of Tehran. Davis is now a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and is considered to be one of the world's foremost translators of Persian literature. Dick Davis is an English-American poet and translator. Before the Islamic Revolution, Davis lived in Iran and taught English at the University of Tehran. Davis is now a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and is considered to be one of the world's foremost translators of Persian literature.
Content
The Conference of the Birds - Farid ud-Din Attar Translated with an Introduction by Afkham Darbandi and Dick DavisIntroduction
The Conference of the Birds
Biographical Index
The Conference of the Birds
Biographical Index