Reviews
Bernard Lewis's translations suggest differences of tone and temperament in the wide range of traditions from which he has compiled his anthology, among them classical Arabic, Turkish, and Hebrew poetry, as well as Persian. ---W.S. Merwin, The New York Review of Books, Only [Lewis] could single-handedly assemble poems from so many languages and cultures into a coherent anthology. . . . Although translating from four languages, Lewis captures the rhythms and cadences of each admirably., "Only [Lewis] could single-handedly assemble poems from so many languages and cultures into a coherent anthology. . . . Although translating from four languages, Lewis captures the rhythms and cadences of each admirably." -- Booklist, "A work of stunning beauty. . . . The poems here, as ensured by Mr. Lewis' mastery of all source languages, and his impeccable style and taste, come fully alive in English." ---Surekha Vijh, The Washington Times, "A fine anthology with moments of real beauty. Unlike almost any scholar I can think of, Lewis not only has the linguistic diversity to undertake translations from four different languages, but he has the ability to produce translations with a literary quality that rises to a level one can call poetic." --Carter Findley, Ohio State University, Bernard Lewis's translations suggest differences of tone and temperament in the wide range of traditions from which he has compiled his anthology, among them classical Arabic, Turkish, and Hebrew poetry, as well as Persian. -- W.S. Merwin, The New York Review of Books, Sometimes humorous or mystical, the poems focus on family, love and religion. . . . This collection is a fine historical document and anthology of eloquent poetry. -- Library Journal, Bernard Lewis's translations suggest differences of tone and temperament in the wide range of traditions from which he has compiled his anthology, among them classical Arabic, Turkish, and Hebrew poetry, as well as Persian., "Bernard Lewis's translations suggest differences of tone and temperament in the wide range of traditions from which he has compiled his anthology, among them classical Arabic, Turkish, and Hebrew poetry, as well as Persian." --W.S. Merwin, The New York Review of Books, "Lewis is probably the doyen of Middle East historians. Few scholars in the field today can match his mastery of languages and his elegant style in English. . . . The translations are a delight to read and give a good sense of the range of subject matter of this poetry."-- Choice, "Lewis, one of the foremost scholars of the Middle East, has devoted much of his career to the history of Islam; this volume collects his translations of poems--nearly all appearing in English for the first time--that span eleven centuries and four major Middle Eastern traditions. Many of the most striking works address, in spare, stirring lines, the twin demands of serving the self and serving God." -- The New Yorker, "A work of stunning beauty. . . . The poems here, as ensured by Mr. Lewis' mastery of all source languages, and his impeccable style and taste, come fully alive in English."-- Surekha Vijh, The Washington Times, This anthology is a selection of poems representing the forms and styles of Middle Eastern poetry from the 7th to the 18th century in the four leading literary traditions of the Middle East. These poems are revelatory: straightforward and yet filled with longing and desire. -- LA Times Book Review, Sometimes humorous or mystical, the poems focus on family, love and religion. . . . This collection is a fine historical document and anthology of eloquent poetry., Only [Lewis] could single-handedly assemble poems from so many languages and cultures into a coherent anthology. . . . Although translating from four languages, Lewis captures the rhythms and cadences of each admirably. -- Booklist, "A work of stunning beauty. . . . The poems here, as ensured by Mr. Lewis' mastery of all source languages, and his impeccable style and taste, come fully alive in English." --Surekha Vijh, The Washington Times, "This anthology is a selection of poems representing the forms and styles of Middle Eastern poetry from the 7th to the 18th century in the four leading literary traditions of the Middle East. These poems are revelatory: straightforward and yet filled with longing and desire." -- LA Times Book Review, "Lewis is probably the doyen of Middle East historians. Few scholars in the field today can match his mastery of languages and his elegant style in English. . . . The translations are a delight to read and give a good sense of the range of subject matter of this poetry." -- Choice, "Only [Lewis] could single-handedly assemble poems from so many languages and cultures into a coherent anthology. . . . Although translating from four languages, Lewis captures the rhythms and cadences of each admirably."-- Booklist, "This price-worthy book can be recommended to a very wide variety of readers, lay and academic, interested in poetry and poetics or in the periods, places, and overlapped cultures represented here." ---Victor Castellani, European Legacy, A work of stunning beauty. . . . The poems here, as ensured by Mr. Lewis' mastery of all source languages, and his impeccable style and taste, come fully alive in English., Lewis, one of the foremost scholars of the Middle East, has devoted much of his career to the history of Islam; this volume collects his translations of poems--nearly all appearing in English for the first time-- that span eleven centuries and four major Middle Eastern traditions. Many of the most striking works address, in spare, stirring lines, the twin demands of serving the self and serving God., This price-worthy book can be recommended to a very wide variety of readers, lay and academic, interested in poetry and poetics or in the periods, places, and overlapped cultures represented here. ---Victor Castellani, European Legacy, Lewis is probably the doyen of Middle East historians. Few scholars in the field today can match his mastery of languages and his elegant style in English. . . . The translations are a delight to read and give a good sense of the range of subject matter of this poetry. -- Choice, "Sometimes humorous or mystical, the poems focus on family, love and religion. . . . This collection is a fine historical document and anthology of eloquent poetry." -- Library Journal, "This price-worthy book can be recommended to a very wide variety of readers, lay and academic, interested in poetry and poetics or in the periods, places, and overlapped cultures represented here." --Victor Castellani, European Legacy, "Professor Lewis's earlier translation of Solomon Ibn Gabirol's long philosophical-meditative poem, The Kingly Crown , is masterful and a classic. Given that effort, Lewis's historically minded sensibility, the exceptional literary value of his selection, and the clarity and accuracy of his translations here, Music of a Distant Drum will meet with a waiting and approving audience. There is no comparable volume offering us the opportunity to read and examine side by side poems from these related but distinct literary traditions. This may well be the first and last collection of Middle Eastern lyric poems translated by a single scholar with such a sweeping command of all of the languages and literatures represented." --Ross Brann, Cornell University, "Lewis, one of the foremost scholars of the Middle East, has devoted much of his career to the history of Islam; this volume collects his translations of poems--nearly all appearing in English for the first time--that span eleven centuries and four major Middle Eastern traditions. Many of the most striking works address, in spare, stirring lines, the twin demands of serving the self and serving God."-- The New Yorker, Lewis is probably the doyen of Middle East historians. Few scholars in the field today can match his mastery of languages and his elegant style in English. . . . The translations are a delight to read and give a good sense of the range of subject matter of this poetry., "Bernard Lewis's translations suggest differences of tone and temperament in the wide range of traditions from which he has compiled his anthology, among them classical Arabic, Turkish, and Hebrew poetry, as well as Persian." ---W.S. Merwin, The New York Review of Books, "This anthology is a selection of poems representing the forms and styles of Middle Eastern poetry from the 7th to the 18th century in the four leading literary traditions of the Middle East. These poems are revelatory: straightforward and yet filled with longing and desire."-- LA Times Book Review, A work of stunning beauty. . . . The poems here, as ensured by Mr. Lewis' mastery of all source languages, and his impeccable style and taste, come fully alive in English. -- Surekha Vijh, The Washington Times, "Bernard Lewis's translations suggest differences of tone and temperament in the wide range of traditions from which he has compiled his anthology, among them classical Arabic, Turkish, and Hebrew poetry, as well as Persian."-- W.S. Merwin, The New York Review of Books, "Sometimes humorous or mystical, the poems focus on family, love and religion. . . . This collection is a fine historical document and anthology of eloquent poetry."-- Library Journal, A work of stunning beauty. . . . The poems here, as ensured by Mr. Lewis' mastery of all source languages, and his impeccable style and taste, come fully alive in English. ---Surekha Vijh, The Washington Times, Lewis, one of the foremost scholars of the Middle East, has devoted much of his career to the history of Islam; this volume collects his translations of poems--nearly all appearing in English for the first time--that span eleven centuries and four major Middle Eastern traditions. Many of the most striking works address, in spare, stirring lines, the twin demands of serving the self and serving God. -- The New Yorker, Lewis, one of the foremost scholars of the Middle East, has devoted much of his career to the history of Islam; this volume collects his translations of poems--nearly all appearing in English for the first time--that span eleven centuries and four major Middle Eastern traditions. Many of the most striking works address, in spare, stirring lines, the twin demands of serving the self and serving God., This anthology is a selection of poems representing the forms and styles of Middle Eastern poetry from the 7th to the 18th century in the four leading literary traditions of the Middle East. These poems are revelatory: straightforward and yet filled with longing and desire.
