A Tale of Four Dervishes

by

176 pages

English language

Published Aug. 28, 2007 by Penguin Classics.

ISBN:
978-0-14-045518-2
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3 stars (1 review)

Originally composed in the fourteenth century and made popular in 1803 by Mir Amman's colloquial retelling, this wonderfully entertaining story paints a portrait of a distant and colorful time and place. In despair at having no son to succeed him, the king of Turkey leaves his palace to live in seclusion. Soon afterward, however, he encounters four wandering dervishes-three princes and a rich merchant-who have been guided to Turkey by a supernatural force that prophesied their meeting. As the five men sit together in the dead of night sharing their tales of lost love, a magnificent landscape reveals courtly intrigue and romance, fairies and djinn, oriental gardens and lavish feasts.

1 edition

reviewed A Tale of Four Dervishes by Mīr Amman Dihlavī

Review of 'A Tale of Four Dervishes' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

“A Tale of Four Dervishes” (Bagh-o-Bahar) by Mir Amman was an enjoyable, light Urdu classic. Similar in tone to the Arabian Nights, the stories are silly, colorful, and fantastical—complete with djinns, demons, brave princes, clever princesses, and lots of topsy-turvy complications. The frame narrative concerns King Azad Bhakt in Turkey is deeply concerned that he has no heir. One day, he encounters four unlucky dervishes who are wandering the world having lost their loves. The stories are fun and move quickly. Many of the stories are nested inside multiple stories. Beyond enjoying the work, one gets an insight into some of the aspects of Indo-Islamic culture and identity. If you find a copy, it is worth picking up on a weekend.

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