The Minstrel of Love, Iran, and Freedom: The Life and Poetry of Aref Qazvini

The author extensively describes and examines the life and poetry of Aref Qazvini, Iran’s national poet, with these characteristics in this book. “The Sound of Sorrow,” “The Music of Aref,” “Zoroaster and Aref,” “Azerbaijan and Aref,” “Aref’s Tribute to National Heroes,” “Proverbs and Sayings in Aref’s Works,” and similar subjects are discussed. In a part of his preface, the writer states: “Love for the homeland was instilled in Aref more deeply, and it can be said that he sacrificed his youth, existence, and everything for it, staying loyal to his love.” It is noteworthy that the writer has, by using various pieces of evidence and others’ writings—particularly abundantly quoting the poems of Aref—provided an extensive description of the poet’s life while shedding light on the unique features of his poetry. Moreover, this work also portrays a part of the Constitutional Movement’s quest for freedom as well as the political and social state of that era. In the second part of the book, a selection of Aref’s poems and verses is presented.