The Persian Mystics: Jalálu'd-Dín Rúmí

Published in 1907, this early English-language study introduced Western readers to the revolutionary spiritual vision of Jalal al-Din Rumi, the 13th-century Persian poet and mystic whose influence would eventually span the globe. The author traces Rumi's journey from jurist to intoxicated lover of the divine, exploring how his encounter with the wandering dervish Shams-e Tabrizi transformed him into poetry's most passionate voice for divine love. The text situates Rumi within the broader Sufi tradition, examining the radical early mystics like Rabia al-Adawiyya, who pioneered the theology of love over fear, and Mansur al-Hallaj, whose cry 'Ana al-Haqq' (I am the Truth) cost him his life. Rather than dry scholarship, the book aspires to be an 'ambassador of good-will' between East and West, presenting Sufism not as exotic curiosity but as a profound spiritual path centered on union with the Beloved. For readers interested in the history of mystical thought in the English-speaking world, or those seeking to understand Rumi's place in the Sufi tradition, this remains a valuable period document.