An Unconventional Lover's Poetry

This volume presents 55 Arabic love poems by the scandalous genius of the Islamic Golden Age, Abu Nuwas (c. 756-814 CE), the bold and witty voice who redefined love and desire in the Abbasid era. Celebrated and condemned in equal measure, Abu Nuwas broke every literary rule of his time. His verses glorify love, wine, beauty, and desire with wit, sensuality, and an irreverent joy for life.This collection brings together his most captivating love poems, newly translated and thoughtfully arranged for modern readers. Blending scholarly insight with literary elegance, An Unconventional Lover's Poetry invites readers to explore a timeless celebration of language, beauty, and the freedom of passion beyond convention. Joyce Åkesson is the author of Abu Nuwas: Selected Poems of Love, Wine and Life, Majnun Leyla, and many books on Arabic linguistics.