Laili and Majnun

by James Atkinson, Esq and Anjana Neira Dev

The tragic love story of Laili and Majnun has captured the imagination of readers for the last eight centuries. The Iranian folk narrative, which was the subject of oral tales, miniature art and textiles; was first put into the form of an epic poem by the Persian poet NIzami. Since then it had been adapted for the visual medium and become the plot of highly popular films. The story of the loves of laili and Majnun is one of the most popular in the East. Every nation has its favorite tales of love as well as chivalry. England has its Romeo & Juliet, France and italy have their Abelard and Eloisa, their Petrarch and Laura; and Arabia has its Laili and Majnun, the beautiful record of whose sorrows is constantly referred to, throughout the East, as an immortal example of the most faithful love. The Persian poet has depicted the character of a frantic lover, and also the tender affections of his Laili. Since readers have had no access to this immortal tale of love and sacrifice in recent times this book is presented in a fresh layout with illustrations.