Kamla K. Kapur 
Rumi’s Tales from the Silk Road 
Pilgrimage to Paradise

Written almost 800 years ago, Rumis stories reflect the blended characteristics of the East and West. The Sufi poet traveled in a landscape divided between the Persian and Byzantine empires and his poetry expressed the passions, fables, and faith of both worlds. Inspired by Rumi, Kamla K. Kapurs Pilgrimage to Paradise is a reworking of the translations of thirty of his storiestales of wit, wisdom, and faith. The basis for Kapurs stories is Rumis six volume Mathnawi, an epic Sufi mystical poem of more that 25, 000 verses, as translated from the Persian by Reynold A. Nicholson. Kapur brings the dense, intimidating volume into a more readable formputting her own spin on the stories, yet remaining true to Rumis vision. Charming stories such as The Witch of Kabul and Moses Learns a Lesson, bring Rumis verses to life as clever fables. Pilgrimage to Paradise gives readers one of Persias greatest literary treasures in an accessible form that will entertain and enlighten.