The Conference of the Birds by FARID UD-DIN ATTAR

The Conference of the Birds by FARID UD-DIN ATTARComposed in the twelfth century in north eastern Iran, Attars great mystical poem is among the most significant of all works of Persian literature. A marvellous, allegorical rendering of the Islamic doctrine of Sufism an esoteric system concerned with the search for truth through God it describes the consequences of the conference of the birds of the world when they meet to begin the search for their ideal king, the Simorgh bird. On hearing that to

the boys who lay equal claim to her heart

another fall in the Himalayas crippled and almost broke him

the second you become a friend

What begins as a twist on a fairy tale unfurls into an epic tale of magic

- Abraham Lincoln< I know not what course others may take

From riffs on country music

Weaving together in-depth analysis and brilliant historical research

terrify the mostly upper-caste audience

a combining machine

over-the-top novel like few others

positive behaviours - better

but Sobriety is not one of them