Editorial Reviews 
Amazon.com  
Who is the bestselling poet in the United States? Allen Ginsburg? Robert Frost? Walt Whitman? How about Jalal al-Din Rumi? Rumi-mania has struck hard, inspiring rock bands, high fashion, modern dance, and opera. All this from the son of an Islamic preacher born in the foothills of the Pamir Mountains in 1207. If you'd like to separate the hype from the facts, look no further than Franklin Lewis's pièce de résistance, Rumi: Past and Present, East and West, the last word in Rumi scholarship. The first half is a biography of sorts, in which Lewis examines the available information about Rumi's father, his mentors, their teachings, and Rumi's own activities. In the second half, he takes up Rumi, himself, his writings, his message, and the Mevlevi order that grew up around him. He summarizes Western scholarship on Rumi, and perhaps most interesting for the poetry lover, he evaluates translations of Rumi, going back as far as the early 19th century and right up to Coleman Barks and Deepak Chopra. For an academic, Lewis writes with a refreshing swiftness, aplomb, and wit--characteristics Rumi would appreciate. --Brian Bruya 

Book Description  
Jalal Al-Din Rumi is the United States' best-selling poet. His work is revered by followers from all walks of life, and his popularity has become a modern phenomenon. Written by a renowned Persian scholar, this is a new and definitive guide to this profoundly mystical, perennially popular Sufi poet. Eight stylishly and accessibly written chapters lead the reader towards a deeper understanding of this poet's timeless message. An exploration of medieval Islam provides a fascinating new insight.. 

About the Author  
Franklin Lewis is a Lecturer in the Department of Middle Eastern Studies at Emory University in Atlanta. An expert on Persian culture, his publications in this field include acclaimed critical works and translations of Persian literature both old and new.