Urdu Ghazals An Anthology from the 16th to 20th Century

Each ghazal here appears three times over: first in Urdu calligraphy, then in English translation, then in Romanized transliteration on the facing pages. The selections themselves span the 16th to the 20th century, chosen for artistic quality, universal appeal and accessibility to readers encountering the form for the first time. A brief biographical and critical note accompanies each poet, alongside a portrait, while an introductory essay traces the origin, development and defining features of the ghazal as an art form. The result is as much a guide to the tradition as a collection of its finest expressions.