With a provenance of 8 centuries, collections of Rumi’s poems have traditionally appeared alongside illustrations dating back to – or depicting – a bygone Persian era, reflecting the glory, the mysticism and the legacy of his words and the period in which they were penned.

Whilst classical aesthetics have their rightful place in this context, they do not visually convey the capacity for Rumi’s works to transcend generational and historical boundaries, remaining as relevant to a 21st century audience as they were to those that went before.

This book presents Rumi’s poetry within a contemporary framework for the first time and sheds light on its continuing pertinence to life as we experience it today. In doing so, it aims to invite a new generation to engage with his writings, to reflect on the immortal essence of his words, and to wonder at the perpetuity of the human emotions that profoundly connect each of us, regardless of the time or place that we occupy in history.