Dardedel: Rumi, Hafez & Love in New York

Professor Pirooz, a Iranian-American who is despairing of his life and the state of today’s world, flies from New York to Phoenix, wanders into the desert at night, and hopes to die. As he pours his heart out to nobody, two cactus plants engage him in conversation. They are the reincarnations of the great Persian poets Hafez and Rumi.

They not only try to dissuade him from his plan, but urge him to return to New York, where they appear again to offer their support: Hafez as a 30-something taxi driver and Rumi in a variety of forms. Along the way we learn a great deal about both historical and contemporary Persia (Iran) and about love, as Hafez falls in love with a precocious 14-year-old he takes on as a fare.

This playful and illuminating novel-in-verse not only brings these two great Persian poets to life, but also serves as a wonderful introduction to their work. Manoucher Parvin’s imaginative love story – part contemporary fairy-tale, part mythology – not only touches the heart, but critically reflects contemporary mores, morals, philosophy, and society.