Layli and Majnun
Azerbaijan

Layli and Majnun

by Nizami Ganjavi

Love & Passion Literary Fiction Classics Poetry 1188

Summary

Qays falls passionately in love with Layli, but when their families forbid their union, his devotion drives him beyond the boundaries of reason. Known as Majnun, or “the madman,” he wanders the wilderness, pouring his longing into poetry while Layli is forced into a marriage with another man. Though separated by society, tradition, and circumstance, their love becomes an all-consuming force that transcends earthly possession. Written in the twelfth century, this celebrated Persian romance transforms a tragic love story into a meditation on desire, spiritual devotion, and the painful distance between the heart and the world that seeks to control it.

Reviews

Login to leave a review.

No reviews yet. Be the first!

You might also like

Days in the Caucasus
Days in the Caucasus
Banine
The Orphan Sky
The Orphan Sky
Ella Leya
Ali and Nino
Ali and Nino
Kurban Said
Country
Azerbaijan
Asia
About the author
Nizami Ganjavi
Nizami Ganjavi

Nizami Ganjavi (c. 1141–1209) was one of the greatest poets of classical Persian literature. Born in Ganja, in present-day Azerbaijan, he became renowned for combining intricate storytelling, philosophical reflection, and lyrical beauty in his narrative poetry. His masterpiece, the Khamsa (The Five Treasures), comprises five long poems exploring love, wisdom, morality, and the human condition. Among them, Layli and Majnun became one of the most influential romances in Persian literature, inspiring countless adaptations across Persian, Turkish, Kurdish, and South Asian literary traditions. Nizami transformed an older Arabic love legend into a profound exploration of devotion, longing, and spiritual transcendence. Although centuries have passed since his death, his poetry remains a cornerstone of Persian literary heritage and a lasting influence on the literature and art of the wider region.

View author page
Details
Published
1188
Author
Nizami Ganjavi