"Hafez in Love is a quite charming little historical romance, in a world that has become very unstable but where poetry also still matters. It's an enjoyable read—and fans of Hafez and his poetry will certainly appreciate it, not least for how the poetry is cleverly employed in the novel."—Complete Review
"Pezeshkzad’s Hafez in Love is an engaging insight into the lives of poets of 14th-century Persia, a novel in which he demonstrates his mastery of the art of historical storytelling. and reminds the reader that poetry is not just a vehicle for expression but also the perfect anecdote in turbulent times."—Asian Review of Books
"Pezeshkzad is one of Iran’s beloved modern writers."—Nasrin Rahimieh, University of California, Irvine
"Hafez in Love is an extraordinary English rendering showing why this Persian poet of wine, love, and honesty has been the most widely read author from the Balkan to the Bay of Bengal for seven hundred years in the Islamic world…. A fantastic read to be recommended to everyone who loves Persia, Persian poetry, and historical novels."—Ali-Asghar Seyed-Ghorab, Leiden University
Description
Shams al-Din Mohammad Hafez is in love. He is in love with a girl, with a city, and with Persian poetry. Despite his enmity with the new and dangerous city leader, the jealousy of his fellow court poets, and the competition for his beloved, Iran’s favorite poet remains unbothered. When his wit and charm are not enough to keep him safe in Shiraz, his friends conspire to keep him out of trouble. But their schemes are unsuccessful. Nothing will chase Hafez from this city of wine and roses.
In Pezeshkzad’s fictional account, Hafez’s life in fourteenth-century Shiraz is a mix of peril and humor. Set in a city that is at once beautiful and cutthroat, the novel includes a cast of historical figures to illuminate this elusive poet of the Persian literary tradition. Shabani-Jadidi and Higgins’s translation brings the beloved poetry of Hafez alive for an English audience and reacquaints readers with the comic wit and original storytelling of Pezeshkzad.
About the Author
Iraj Pezeshkzad was born in Tehran in 1928 and educated in Iran and then France, where he received his law degree. He is a retired diplomat, journalist, and writer. He is the author of several plays, short stories, and novels, including My Uncle Napoleon.
Pouneh Shabani-Jadidi is senior lecturer of Persian language and linguistics at the Institute of Islamic Studies, McGill University.
Patricia J. Higgins is a University Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, Emerita at the State University of New York Plattsburgh.
May 2021