Entitled “Hafez and Goethe: Mutual Perception and Misunderstanding in German and Iranian Culture”, the book will be published by Schiller Verlag in September in Berlin.
The book sheds light on Goethe’s reasons for writing “The Western-Eastern Divan”, Falaki told the Persian service of ISNA on Monday.
“The Western-Eastern Divan” is originally the title of an 1819 collection of poems in a quasi-Persian style by Johann Wolfgang Goethe, who lived in Weimar and is revered as Germany’s greatest poet, dramatist and novelist.
Falaki said that book also pointed to the German translation of the Divan of Hafez by Joseph v. Hammer Purgstall, which was used by Goethe.
“The German translation is not very precise and causes some problems in the perception of Hafez’s poetry,” he said.
Falaki’s book also explains how Goethe was interested in Eastern culture and civilization.
Inspired by the Divan of Hafez (c. 1325-1389), Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) blends his own character with that of the Persian poet, who was well acquainted with Quranic and theological subjects.
SB/YAW
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