I just wanted to see how the actual work related to Peter Sis's adaptation. The actual work is much longer and has even less action. I don't think I'm a mystic, of any sort.

So... It's kind of hard to give this only three stars because it's such a classic. But much of this was a resounding, "Meh," for me.

Granted, it's all themes and genres I'm not drawn to: mysticism, religion, epic poetry, lots of slavery and other (now) anachronistic morality, and over-wrought love imagery: -3. But it does capture a certain world view (and a certain historical and cultural place), so 1. It's a world classic, so for better or worse: 2. Certain passages were really lyrical, rhythmic, etc. (big nod to the translators): 2, maybe 3 (I'll round up.) ( )

English Edition (First Read)

Translations like photos remove dimensions from our perceptive reality. Reading texts like this, you know that there could be more meanings under each original words. Translation veil these meanings (sometimes, as Jacques Derrida saying) but beside that a nice read.

Italian Edition (Second Read)

Ho cambiato la mia valutazione dopo questa seconda lettura a distanza di un paio di anni. Quattro stelle meritate. Come consiglia l'autore, rileggi anche più volte se necessario ché da questa velata sposa a uno a uno cadranno i veli, tra mille moine. Ed ancora Il libro che vi porgo è fregio dei tempi, dono gentile per nobili e vili. Se all'inizio sembrò simile a ghiaccio impenetrabile, alla fine si rivelò indomabile fuoco.

Ringrazio per Questo, l'Upupa ( )

> Voir ici

Mantiqu't-Tair es una de las obras maestras de la literatura persa de la cual se presenta por primera vez una traducción completa y anotada al inglés como El discurso de los pájaros. El texto gira en torno a la decisión de las aves del mundo de buscar un rey. Sus dudas y temores debilitantes, el sabio consejo de su lí­der Hoopoe y su elección de los Simurgh como rey, es en realidad una alegorí­a del camino espiritual del sufismo con sus demandas, sus peligros y sus infinitas recompensas. El poema contiene muchas anécdotas amonestadoras e historias ejemplares, que incluyen numerosas referencias a algunos de los primeros mí­sticos musulmanes, como Rabi'a al-'Adawiyya, Abu Sa'id ibn Abi'l-Khair, Mansur al-Hallaj y Shibli, entre otros. . En El discurso de los pájaros, Peter Avery no solo nos ha dado una traducción precisa y conmovedora, sino también una amplia anotación que proporciona mucha información para completar lo que Attar hubiera esperado que sus lectores supieran. El resultado es una visión fascinante de un aspecto notable del Islam: el mundo del amor extático de los mí­sticos persas. El Discurso de los pájaros será de interés para todos los que valoran la gran literatura, así­ como para todos los estudiantes de persa y sufismo. -
Mantiqu't-Tair is one of the masterpieces of Persian literature of which a complete and annotated translation into English is here presented for the first time as The Speech of the Birds. The text revolves around the decision of the birds of the world to seek out a king. Their debilitating doubts and fears, the knowing counsel of their leader Hoopoe, and their choice of the Simurgh as a king, is in reality an allegory of the spiritual path of Sufism with its demands, its hazards and its infinite rewards. The poem contains many admonitory anecdotes and exemplary stories, including numerous references to some of the early Muslim mystics such as Rabi'a al-'Adawiyya, Abu Sa'id ibn Abi'l-Khair, Mansur al-Hallaj and Shibli, among others. In The Speech of the Birds, Peter Avery has not only given us a precise and moving translation, but also ample annotation providing much information to fill in what Attar would have expected his readers to know. The result is a fascinating insight into a remarkable aspect of Islam: the world of ecstatic love of the Persian mystics. The Speech of the Birds will be of interest to everyone who values great literature, as well as to all students of Persian and Sufism.