The Position of Persian Literature in English

Abstract

What is usually understood as 'Persian Literature' is that which has been prevalent in Persia after the Arab Conquest. It is this post-Islamic Persian literature that has been translated into English, and being naturalized in English literature, it has highly influenced some of its distinguished men of letters. Although it is impossible to reproduce all the aesthetic-poetic features of the Persian poetry in English translation, the reflection of Persian ideas and thoughts in English literature indicates that many English scholars were profoundly impressed by the masters of the Persian poetry, especially by Sa'di and Hafiz of Shiraz. The present article is an attempt to discuss the position of the Persian poetry in English literature. It explains how and why some outstanding British Orientalists, such as Sir William Jones and his associates and followers, tried to make the Persian language and culture available to the employees of the East India Company.