Penguin Classics: Conference of the Birds

The paths of God are intricate and strange’

Composed in the twelfth century in north-eastern Iran, Attar’s great mystical poem is among the most significant of all works of Persian literature. A marvellous, allegorical rendering of the Islamic doctrine of Sufism – a system concerned with the search for truth through God – it describes 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 find him they must undertake an arduous journey, the birds soon express their reservations to their leader, the hoopoe. With eloquence and insight, however, the hoopoe calms their fears, using a series of riddling parables to provide guidance in the search for spiritual truth. By turns witty and profound, worldly and spiritual, The Conference of the Birds transforms deep belief into magnificent poetry.

This edition has been updated to include translations of the poem’s Prologue and Epilogue for the first time. A new introduction by Dick Davis outlines Attar’s life and beliefs, discusses the poem’s themes and influence, and places it in the context of Medieval literature.

Translated by AFKHAM DARBANDI and DICK DAVIS
With a new introduction by DICK DAVIS