Book Description: Jelaluddin Rumi (1207-1273) is a master of ecstatic poetry, and is perhaps the greatest spiritual poet of all time. His masterpieces have inspired countless people throughout history, and today, thanks to the magical translations of Coleman Barks, Rumi’s poetry is more popular than ever. Barks’ translations are paired with exquisite Persian miniatures from the Persian national epic, the Shahnamah, or Book of Kings, composed by Abu’l Qasim Ferdowsi in the tenth and eleventh centuries and housed in Princeton University’s Firestone Library. The rich intricacy of the artwork complements Rumi’s mystical metaphors, in which the yearning for the divine beloved represents the soul’s quest for wholeness. Sample caption: There is some kiss we want with our whole lives, the touch of spirit on the body.