From Publishers Weekly Like Hildegard of Bingen and Julian of Norwich in the Christian world, Jalaluddin Rumi was both poet and mystic, and is counted among the greatest Islamic artists in both arenas. His poetry, translated from medieval Persian, has become extremely popular in the United States, and Sufism, the mystical practice that he helped establish, has found a new home among American converts to Islam. Wines's short biography of the great religious poet is straightforward and easily comprehensible, showing clearly her own background in journalism. The bare outlines of Rumi's lifeAhis family's flight from Afghanistan to modern Turkey during the Mongol invasions in the 13th century, his early educational achievements, and the meeting with the eccentric Shams al-Din al-Tabriz that catapulted him into love and mysticismAare presented here with a sprinkling of the poetry for which Rumi is famous. Wines's book offers no new or startling knowledge about Rumi, as she has relied on secondary sources by well-known scholars for her information; therefore it is not particularly interesting to anyone who already knows the general facts of his life. For those who have come to Rumi through his poetry and are only secondarily discovering the man, however, her accessible biography, with its list of further recommended reading, is a fine resource. (Jan.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. Read more From Library Journal This book is one of many now appearing to meet the growing interest in Sufism and the Islamic poet Jalalu'ddin Rumi. Journalist Wines (UPI, Glamour magazine) takes the reader through Rumi's itinerant childhood and his wanderings throughout the Middle East before settling in Konya (in modern Turkey), where he encountered the legendary dervish Shams. Assuming a significant amount of fact behind the legend, the author explains the evolving pupil/mentor relationship between Rumi and Shams, whose preoccupation with one another led to the exclusion and fury of Rumi's own disciples. Shams transformed Rumi from "a great intellectual into a great mystic," yet his sudden departure from Konya, the uncertainty surrounding his murder, and the spiritual impact he had on Rumi led to a soul-searching that culminated in the Mathnawi, the sacred text for which the poet is renowned. Wines has written an adequate account of Rumi's relationship to the controversial nature of Sufism in medieval Islamic society as well as to the poet's own contemporaries. Recommended for Sufi collections and for public libraries catering to an increased demand for material on this subject.DLoren Rosson III, Nashua P.L., NH Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. Read more See all Editorial Reviews
D**Y
A good resource for learning about Rumi
I wanted to learn more about Rumi and was surprised that there are not many resources for learning about the man. This was one of the few that I found. I did walk away with a greater understanding of Rumi and commend the writer for undertaking the task. Not the easiest read, but I was glad to push through to the end.
C**A
a capable overview....
...of the life and times of the great Persian poet-mystic.So why am I giving this a 3?1. The paper on which the book is printed is cheap crap. Obviously this isn't the author's fault, but it might affect whether you want to purchase it.2. The events described in the book constitute a biography but don't emphasize what we know of Rumi's interiority, spirituality, creativity, or mysticism, so I wasn't clear on why the title refers to a "spiritual biography."3. Some of the stylistic errors surprised me, particularly the ongoing misuse of commas. Because the author is advertised as a seasoned journalist, perhaps the editor tweaked her writing. Unfortunate.4. I rapidly grew tired of the continual references to a mistrust of obviously legendary accounts of Rumi's life. I don't need to be told, for example, that a famous miracle attributed to Rumi is "questionable." As a reader, I can be trusted to decide this for myself.Despite these shortcomings, I found the book readable and informative. I recommend it as a useful intro to the life of Rumi.
T**O
A Masterpiece by Ms. Wines
Ms.Wines writes this book in such a way that makes it so enjoyable. She seems to be a writer that any group can grasp her point. What a splendid book.
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