Eight Books (Vaziri/Zarkoub)

The Eight Books is a work by the poet from Kashan, “Sohrab Sepehri,” encompassing his eight previous poetry collections. These collections, composed in chronological order, include “Death of Color,” “Life of Dreams,” “The Sun’s Debris,” “East of Sorrow,” “The Sound of Water’s Footsteps,” “The Traveler,” “The Green Volume,” and “We: No One, We: The Look,” all written between the 1950s and the mid-1970s. Many of these poems were previously published in various magazines and journals before being compiled in “The Eight Books.” Their arrangement in this sequence reflects the evolution of Sohrab Sepehri’s poetry and his intellectual journey over the years, offering a delightful experience to admirers of his unique works. His final collection, titled “We: No One, We: The Look,” included alongside the others in “The Eight Books,” was composed only a few years before he departed this mortal world. Thus, his mind, brimming with talent and creativity and capable of producing countless poems, was silenced too soon. The treasure trove of his unique and groundbreaking poetry remains as a legacy within the sanctuary of Persian literature. “Sohrab” was an artist and an admirer of the arts, and the essence of this passion, intertwined with philosophy, is vividly expressed in “The Eight Books.” Moreover, due to his travels and acquaintance with the cultures and traditions of different parts of the world, his poetry reflects a broader, more unbiased worldview. It is worth mentioning that this edition of “The Eight Books” includes illustrations, all of which are creations by “Sohrab Sepehri” himself.