Azima Melita Kolin – författare

A breathtaking new collection of translations of poems by Rumi, one of the world’s most loved mystical teachers and bestselling poets. Beautifully packaged and illustrated with paintings and Persian calligraphy, this is an ideal gift.Jalal-uddin Rumi was born in what is now Afghanistan in 1207. His poetry has inspired generations of spiritual seekers, both from his own Sufi school and well beyond. His poems speak to the seeker and the lover in all of us. He is one of the world’s most revered poets and spiritual teachers, and is currently the bestselling poet in America.Rumi is one of the greatest mystic poets of all time. His unique message of love speaks directly to the heart and transcends the boundaries of language and time. These poems, carefully selected from the Divan of Shams (Rumi's collection of 3,000 poems), speak powerfully to the seeker and lover in all of us.These beautiful, new translations from the original Persian, by the authors of Rumi: Whispers of the Beloved, are arranged thematically and lead us through the intricacies of love, longing and the quest for truth. Each section is accompanied by Persian calligraphy of several of the poems, as well as stunning, evocative paintings by Azima Melita Kolin, reproduced in full colour, which are inspired by the poems and have been specially commissioned for the book.

A breathtaking new collection of translations of poems by Rumi, one of the world’s most loved mystical teachers. Beautifully packaged and illustrated with Persian calligraphy, this is an ideal gift for every MBS reader.Jalal-uddin Rumi was born in what is now Afghanistan in 1207. His poetry has inspired generations of spiritual seekers, both from his own Sufi school and well beyond. His poems speak to the seeker and the lover in all of us.In recent years, interest in Rumi has skyrocketed, with perrfomances, CDs by Deepak Chopra, and filmed versions of his life all in the work. In these beautiful, simple new translations – 100 in all – his timeless appeal is obvious. Publication is timed not only because this is an ideal gift, but also to coincide with Rumi’s death day (the day he is celebrated) 17 December.

From a childhood under a communist dictatorship in Bulgaria, Azima Melita Kolin found herself a starving piano student in Rome, rescued by being awarded a special prize at a competition in Barcelona, where she met a remarkable woman who became a life-time inspiration. She continued her studies in Geneva, taught piano, gave concerts and had extraordinary travels. She worked with great musicians and encountered some truly eccentric personalities.Marriage brought her to London and to a castle on the Isle of Skye, where she not only ran a Chamber Music Festival but started her career as a painter. Writing a book was the last thing on her mind when she applied for a painting scholarship to The Wurlitzer Foundation in New Mexico. The only place available was for a writer. Yet, she felt compelled to accept. It took many years before patterns emerged from the knotted mists of memory, often revealing the handprint of an invisible designer. What started with writing turned into a profound journey of inner discovery.