Laylī and Majnūn : love, madness, and mystic longing in Niẓāmī's epic romance

A comprehensive study of Nezami's romance, "Layli and Majnun" (1188). It examines key themes such as chastity, constancy and suffering through an analysis of the main characters. Majnun's asceticism, kingship, love-madness, poetic genius, ill-fate and love-death are treated in separate chapters. In this substantial analysis, Seyed-Gohrab (Persian literature, Leiden U., The Netherlands) examines the classic Persian love story, which bears similarities to Romeo and Juliet as star-crossed lovers who are united only in death, to show the traditions of love and romance it contains. The study begins with a lengthy introduction on medieval Persian views on love. The text then turns to topics that include the literary style used by Nizami, the formal structure of the tale, its time and setting, the context for the tale's characters in earlier works, the reception of the work, and in-depth textual analysis of the characterization and attributes of Majnun and his relationships with the other characters in the story. Throughout, each aspect of the story is described within the larger context of literary themes and motifs used in Persian literature. All the passages are quoted in English. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) This book is the first comprehensive analysis of Nezāmī's romance Laylī and Majnūn (1188). It examines key themes such as chastity, constancy and suffering through an analysis of the main characters. Majnūn's asceticism, kingship, love-madness, poetic genius, ill-fate, and love-death are treated in separate chapters. The patriarchal society in which Laylī lives, her anxieties and dilemmas, incarceration, secret love, imposed marriage and finally her death are discussed in detail. One chapter is devoted entirely to the different ways parents raise their children and the consequences. Finally, the book gives an analysis of Nezāmī's style, the narrative structure of the romance and the symbolism of time and setting. By Ali.asghar Seyed-gohrab. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [341]-357) And Index.