Persian Literature and Poetry

Persian literature is one of the best in the world and has influenced eastern and western countries a lot. Khayyam, Rudaki, Saadi, Hafez, Rumi, Attar, Ferdowsi, Baba Taheer, Nizami etc are all Iranian poets known worldwide. Poetry is such an integral part of the Persian literary tradition that it would be futile to attempt to teach the Persian language without touching on some key poetic works and themes. However, Some of the Persian contemporary poets and writers are Nima Youshij (نیما یوشیج), Ahmad Shamlou (احمد شاملو), Akhavan Sales (اخوان ثالث), Forough Farrokhzad (فروغ فرخزاد), Mohammad Ali Jamalzadeh (محمد علی جمالزاده), Ali Akbar Dehkhoda (علی اکبر دهخدا), Mohammad-Reza Shafiei Kadkani ((محمد رضا شفیعی کدکنی), Qeysar Aminpour (قیصر امین پور). In this book you will find links to a variety of Persian poets, starting with the classics, with more modern poets soon added. I have chosen a selected number of excerpts from each poet in order to introduce the Persian learner to the joys of poetry in a way, which we hope will be accessible and not overwhelming.