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Love and Devotion: From Persia and Beyond

Love and Devotion: From Persia and Beyond

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Goethe's West-eastern Divan: poetry reading

Goethe's West-eastern Divan: poetry reading

1:41

Actor Helen Morse reads an excerpt from Goethe’s West-eastern Divan, translated from the German by Edward Dowden.

This reading is part of a series of excerpts from the romantic stories and lyrical verse written or inspired by some of the great Persian poets of the past, as showcased in the Love and devotion: from Persia and beyond exhibition.

Goethe's West-eastern Divan: poetry reading transcript


From Goethe's West-eastern Divan, translated from the German by Edward Dowden

The man who loves will never go astray,
Though shadows close around him and above,
Leila and Medschnun, if they rose to-day,
From me might understand the path of love.

Is it possible, sweet love, I hold thee close!
Hear the divine voice pealing, musical!
Always impossible doth seem the rose,
And inconceivable the nightingale.

Come, dearest, come, wind round my brow this band!
Thy fingers only make the turban fair.
Abbas, on Iran’s throne of high command,
Ne'er had his head enwound with comelier gear!

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Charles Melville on the 'arts of the book' & diffusion of Persian culture: part 2
Professor Charles Melville discusses illustrated and richly illuminated manuscripts that address the themes of love and devotion.
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Charles Melville on the 'arts of the book' & diffusion of Persian culture: part 1
Professor Charles Melville discusses illustrated and richly illuminated manuscripts that address the themes of love and devotion.
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Susan Scollay on Persian poetry
Enjoy an insight into the exhibition Love and devotion as co-curator Susan Scollay reveals the beauty of Persian poetry.
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Love and devotion exhibition preview
A preview of the Persian manuscripts that feature in Love and devotion, the Library's landmark 2012 exhibition.
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Richard Ovenden on the Bodleian Libraries
Richard Ovenden discusses the Bodleian Libraries and the 'Love and devotion' exhibition.
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Love and devotion poetry readings by Helen Morse
Actor Helen Morse introduces lyrical works written by the great Persian poets of the past.
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Mammad Aidani on authenticity, devotion & friendship in Rumi's poetry
Dr Mammad Aidani explores contemporary ways of understanding the poetry of Maulana Jalal al-Din Rumi.
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Zahra Taheri on women in Rumi's spiritual circle
In this lecture, Dr Zahra Taheri discusses the role of the feminine in the life and teachings of the mystic Sufi poet Rumi.
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Barbara Brend on the 'Khamsa' of Nizami & the 'Khamsa' of Amir Khusrau
Dr Barbara Brend discusses the illustrations in the 'Khamsa' of Nizami and the 'Khamsa' of Amir Khusrau.
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Cameron Douraghy talks about the Rostam: Tales from the Shahnameh comic book series.
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Goethe's West-eastern Divan: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read from Goethe’s West-eastern Divan.
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Byron's Bride of Abydos: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read from Lord Byron's The bride of Abydos.
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Shakespeare's Sonnet no 54: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read Shakespeare's Sonnet no 54.
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Dante's Divine comedy: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read from Dante's Divine comedy.
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Nizami's Layla and Majnun: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read from the story of Layla and Majnun, as told in the Khamsa of Nizami.
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ʿAttar's Conference of the birds: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read from ʿAttar's Conference of the birds.
2:01
Rumi's Masnavi: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read from Rumi's Masnavi.
2:42
Firdausi's Shahnama: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read from Firdausi's Shahnama.
2:22
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read from the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.
1:23
Love and devotion poetry readings by Helen Morse
Actor Helen Morse introduces lyrical works written by the great Persian poets of the past.
2:22
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read from the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.
2:42
Firdausi's Shahnama: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read from Firdausi's Shahnama.
2:01
Rumi's Masnavi: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read from Rumi's Masnavi.
2:19
ʿAttar's Conference of the birds: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read from ʿAttar's Conference of the birds.
1:47
Nizami's Layla and Majnun: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read from the story of Layla and Majnun, as told in the Khamsa of Nizami.
1:46
Dante's Divine comedy: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read from Dante's Divine comedy.
2:09
Divan of Hafiz: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read from the Divan of Hafiz.
1:41
Shakespeare's Sonnet no 54: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read Shakespeare's Sonnet no 54.
1:49
Byron's Bride of Abydos: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read from Lord Byron's The bride of Abydos.
1:41
Goethe's West-eastern Divan: poetry reading
Hear Helen Morse read from Goethe’s West-eastern Divan.
40:53
Barbara Brend on the 'Khamsa' of Nizami & the 'Khamsa' of Amir Khusrau
Dr Barbara Brend discusses the illustrations in the 'Khamsa' of Nizami and the 'Khamsa' of Amir Khusrau.
40:52
Zahra Taheri on women in Rumi's spiritual circle
In this lecture, Dr Zahra Taheri discusses the role of the feminine in the life and teachings of the mystic Sufi poet Rumi.
46:39
Mammad Aidani on authenticity, devotion & friendship in Rumi's poetry
Dr Mammad Aidani explores contemporary ways of understanding the poetry of Maulana Jalal al-Din Rumi.
23:44
Charles Melville on the 'arts of the book' & diffusion of Persian culture: part 1
Professor Charles Melville discusses illustrated and richly illuminated manuscripts that address the themes of love and devotion.
24:57
Charles Melville on the 'arts of the book' & diffusion of Persian culture: part 2
Professor Charles Melville discusses illustrated and richly illuminated manuscripts that address the themes of love and devotion.

Love & devotion in the UK

The Bodleian Libraries is showing its own presentation of the Love and devotion exhibition at the Exhibition Room, Bodleian Library, in Oxford, England, between 29 November 2012 and 28 April 2013.

Learn more about how you can visit this exhibition on the Bodleian Libraries website.

Conference

Love and devotion: Persian Cultural Crossroads

This two-day conference held in April 2012 featured distinguished international guests and Australian specialists exploring cultural convergences in literature, the arts and architecture, history and philosophy within Persia's cultural sphere and Europe, from the 11th century to the present day.

For information on keynote speakers & topics discussed, visit our conference page

Visit the exhibition

The Love and devotion exhibition took place from 9 March to 1 July 2012. In-depth information about the exhibits and themes can be found on this website.

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