Here is an encyclopedic, erudite, and well-researched sourcebook on Rumi for scholars, serous students of the Sufi mystic, and lovers of his poetry. Franklin D. Lewis is Assistant Professor in the Department of Middle Eastern Studies at Emory University in Atlanta. He has done a marvelous job of organizing all the information about this Persian mystic, poet, preacher, and teacher.
Lewis begins with an in-depth overview of Rumi's life and those who influenced him most — his father, "the king of clerics"; Sayyed Borhân al-Din; and the controversial and mysterious Shams al-Din, his spiritual master. He then moves on to a look at the role of Rumi's children and brethren in spirit who conveyed his teachings to the larger world.
Lewis presents new translations of over 50 poems and never before seen prose with commentary. He then delves into Rumi's teachings by looking at reason versus spirit, unity of being, evolution of spirit, die before you die, and much more. On these pages you will also find a history of the Mevlevi order, the spiritual fraternity founded in Konya by Rumi's son, Sultan Valad. Equally important is Lewis's survey of Rumi's appropriation by the Muslim world, a subject not usually covered by other scholars.
But the real heart and soul of this amazing compilation of material is the section titled "Rumi in the West, Rumi Around the World." Here you will find information on him in nineteenth century Western thought and theology; unchurched spirituality: turning to Rumi; and Sufism in the mainstream. Lewis lays out the breadth of Rumi scholarship, an overview of translations of his works and, last but not least, "Rumi Mirrored in Multimedia" (spoken-word audios, videos, paintings, and on the Internet).