Beginning with an analysis of conditions in the 13th century of Christianity and the 7th of Islam, the author pieces together a sensitive and scholarly chronicle of Rumi's life, taking great care to "sift the grain from the chaff." The book covers Rumi's formative years; the appearance and disappearance of the mysterious Shams-i-Tabriz, who transformed Rumi's life; and the sudden "bursting forth" from a middle-aged prose writer of some of the most exquisite and powerful poetry the world has ever known. Book has clean unmarked pages and cover. Cover has slight edge wearl