Canticle of the Birds: Illustrated Through Persian and Eastern Islamic Art

Dick Davis has breathed new life into his 1984 translation of the "The Canticle of the Birds" by Twelfth Century poet Farid-ud-Din Attar. The new publication has additional translations, re-worked passages and a sumptuous array of colorful illustrations from over 200 Persian, Central Asian, Turkish and Indo-Islamic paintings from the thirteenth to the eighteenth centuries-selected by the art historian and scholar of Iranian and Afghan civilization, Michael Barry. The Canticle of the Birds is a masterpiece of Persian literature and Sufi thought. The Global Herald, April 29, 2014 With this book, Diane de Selliers achieves a new feat. The beauty of the pictures is only matched by the beauty of the words. Let's fly away with this Canticle of the Birds, blazing fable, a mystical Sufism's masterpiece written by the Persian poet Farid od-din 'Attar around 1177. -- Philippe Chevilley Les Echos A new translation magnificently illustrated has just been published. La Croix This book is a treasure of poetry with this apostil to the readers: 'My verse has something wonderful within it which is, it gives new meanings every minute.' -- Andre Clavel Lire Dazzling with poetry and erudition, this book is the result of 5 years of research. Beaux-Arts In this beautiful book, this heavenly trip takes an unrivaled dimension. -- Laurence Benaim Stiletto In an ambitious edition, Diane de Selliers offers as an added bonus the Oriental painting's rich symbolic. -- Robert Guinot Le Populaire Diane de Selliers' real strength is that she always finds the perfect match between text, pictures and commentaries. The Canticle of the Birds is no exception to the rule, far from it. -- Nathalie Marchal L'Eventail From any point of view, this art book complies the high quality standards which characterizes the publishing house Diane de Selliers. -- Serge Hartmann Les Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace This flawless book allows a rediscovery of this masterpiece of mystical poetry. L'CEil This is a new world heritage treasure that we rediscover thanks to the Parisian publisher Diane de Selliers. Le Temps Share the magnificence of Persian mystical poetry thanks to this luxurious book. La Vie The de Selliers volume...has remarkable riches of painting in it, drawn from diverse sources. It all comes together: word and image, poetry and mysticism, fana'a and baqa'a. -- B.N. Goswamy The Tribune: India, May 11, 2014 What makes this edition so exceptionally 'collect-worthy' and a reader's supreme delight are the pictorial research, introduction and commentaries by Dr. Michael Barry...This must be one of the most beautiful books ever created. -- Evangeline Kim, World Music Central September 23, 2014