Coleman Barks (1937–2026)
Author of A Year with Rumi: Daily Readings
About the Author
Coleman Barks was born on April 23, 1937, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He graduated from the University of North Carolina and the University of California at Berkeley. Since 1972 he has taught English at the University of Georgia at Athens. Barks received the New England/Breadloaf Quarterly Narrative show more Poem Prize and the Southern Poetry Review's Guy Owen Award. His collections of poetry include The Juice and Gourd Seed. Barks is perhaps better known as a translator of the poet Rumi, a thirteenth century Mystic. Rumi is cpnsidered the greatest mystic of the Sufi religion and wrote extensively in Farsi, the language of Iran. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Works by Coleman Barks
Rumi: The Big Red Book: The Great Masterpiece Celebrating Mystical Love and Friendship (2010) 169 copies
Xenia: A Hoard of Lost Words, Eighteenth-Century Street Lingo, and a Few Completely Confabulated Terms Collected and Exemplified (1994) 17 copies
Rare The Essential Rumi (Sufi poet Jelaluddin Rumi) ed Coleman Barks, 1997 HC w/DJ [Hardcover] unknown — Editor — 6 copies
Rumi, Toronto festival 1 copy
Bridge to the Soul 1 copy
Poetry and Conversation 1 copy
Associated Works
The Soul of Rumi: A New Collection of Ecstatic Poems (2001) — Translator, some editions — 638 copies, 6 reviews
Rumi: The Book of Love: Poems of Ecstasy and Longing (2003) — Translator, some editions — 637 copies, 3 reviews
The Graphic Canon, Vol. 1: From the Epic of Gilgamesh to Shakespeare to Dangerous Liaisons (2012) — Author — 304 copies, 7 reviews
The Drowned Book: Ecstatic and Earthy Reflections of Bahauddin, the Father of Rumi (2004) — Translator — 103 copies, 1 review
Tales of a Modern Sufi: The Invisible Fence of Reality and Other Stories (2009) — Foreword, some editions — 11 copies
Tao Te Ching, The Bhagavad-Gita, The Tibetan Book of The Dead, The Essential Rumi, The Essential Kabbalah, & The Way of A Pilgrim (and The Pilgrim Continues His Way). (Mystical… (1997) — Translator — 2 copies
The Language of Life: Love's Confusing Joy: Coleman Barks on Poet Jelaluddin Rumi (1995, television episode 2) (1995) — Poet, some editions — 1 copy
One Through Love : A Gathering of Lovers [video recording] (2012) — Contributor, some editions — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Barks, Coleman
- Legal name
- Barks, Coleman Bryan
- Birthdate
- 1937-04-23
- Date of death
- 2026-02-23
- Gender
- male
- Education
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BA)
University of California, Berkeley (MA) - Occupations
- poet
translator
teacher
English professor - Organizations
- University of Georgia
- Awards and honors
- Georgia Writers Hall of Fame
Juliet Hollister Award (interfaith understanding, 2004)
University of Tehran honorary doctorate (translation work, 2006) - Short biography
- Coleman Barks was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and educated at the University of North Carolina and the University of California at Berkeley. He taught poetry and creative writing at the University of Georgia for thirty years. He is the author of numerous Rumi translations and has been a student of Sufism since 1977. His work with Rumi was the subject of an hour-long segment in Bill Moyers's Language of Life series on PBS, and he is a featured poet and translator in Bill Moyers's poetry special, "Fooling with Words." Coleman Barks is the father of two grown children and the grandfather of five. He lives in Athens, Georgia.
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
- Places of residence
- Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
Athens, Georgia, USA - Place of death
- Athens, Georgia, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Georgia, USA
Members
Reviews
In the style of The Illuminated Rumi by the same authors, this book discusses the daily prayers of Muslims in a highly personal way. Some readers will have trouble with the title's suggestion that these are "Sufi" and not Muslim prayers, and the authors' near-worship of their late Sufi shaykh is not easy to appreciate. They also reproduce their shaykh's linguistic error of adding a syllable to "La illaha ilallah (There is no god but God)." Still, I found that this imperfect, beautiful book show more has helped me face some of my own deep resistance to the often challenging practice of salat, or "five-times prayer." show less
An interesting illustrated/illuminated (collaged, most specifically, and as such not really my favorite form of illumination, but still well done) look at the Sufi Salat. Lovely illumination in a modern form, and some commentary on the practice of prayer from our Sufi sisters and brothers.
I really enjoy it! Been listening to it over and over for the last couple of days. Barks voice is lovely and the selection of poetry is wonderful.
What I don't like about it is the editing; like for example how there's a sequence with "the last poem of tonight" and a lot of applause just a few minutes in... it sort of shatters the illusion that one is actually listening to a live recital, and it also breaks the flow of the energy build-up... Another thing that I really really dislike is the show more singing voice of the woman... not enjoyable at all, in my opinion. show less
What I don't like about it is the editing; like for example how there's a sequence with "the last poem of tonight" and a lot of applause just a few minutes in... it sort of shatters the illusion that one is actually listening to a live recital, and it also breaks the flow of the energy build-up... Another thing that I really really dislike is the show more singing voice of the woman... not enjoyable at all, in my opinion. show less
The extensive body of work by 13th-century mystic poet Jelaluddin Rumi continues to fascinate readers with a taste for the spiritual, and his writings, which speak passionately of truth, enlightenment, and love for God, appeal to those of all religions. Translations of Rumi's writings by the contemporary poet Coleman Barks have sold more than 500,000 copies since 1981. Now acclaimed illustrator Michael Green -- who collaborated with Barks on The Illuminated Rumi (Broadway Books) -- has show more produced a new and fabulous mystic fusion of sacred poetry and art. This all-new volume features rare poems of Rumi, some of which have never before been translated. There are many collections of Rumi's poetry, but few are illustrated-and none as gorgeously as this full-color book. It is well positioned to capture the favor of spiritual seekers of all ages, including today's spiritually adventurous young adults.
Included with the book is a CDROM by "The Illumination Band" who have put some of the Rumi poemas to music.
About the Author:
Michael Green has had a 30-year career as an artist and illustrator. His books include Unicorns, Zen and The Art of the Macintosh, and The I Ching Records. show less
Included with the book is a CDROM by "The Illumination Band" who have put some of the Rumi poemas to music.
About the Author:
Michael Green has had a 30-year career as an artist and illustrator. His books include Unicorns, Zen and The Art of the Macintosh, and The I Ching Records. show less
Lists
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 38
- Also by
- 18
- Members
- 1,344
- Popularity
- #19,148
- Rating
- 4.3
- Reviews
- 10
- ISBNs
- 54
- Favorited
- 41