Hafiz (1315-1390) was a Persian poet who "lauded the joys of love and wine but, also, targeted religious hypocrisy". His collected works, the Divan being the most well-known, are regarded as a pinnacle of Persian literature and are often found in the homes of people in the Persian speaking world, who learn his poems by heart and still use them as proverbs and sayings. Hafiz primarily wrote in the literary genre of lyric poetry or ghazals, that is the ideal style for expressing the ecstasy of divine inspiration in the mystical form of love poems. Themes of his ghazals are the beloved, faith and exposing hypocrisy. Described as a literary wonder and a poet for poets, Hafiz has been lauded by Emerson, Goethe, Brahms and Nietzsche. Now, renowned artist and writer, Rassouli has dived heart first into the Divan of Hafiz to offer you fresh, careful and devoted translations so you can take your own journey into the Wisdom of Madness. The treasures of Hafiz will bless the reader for a lifetime.
