The Haft Paykar is one of the great works of Persian literature. Completed in 1197 by the Persian poet Nizami of Ganja, it is an allegorical romance of great beauty and depth, and its central theme of self-knowledge as the path to human perfection is conveyed in rich and vivid imagery and complex symbolism. It tells the story of the Sassanian ruler Bahram V Gur and of his spiritual progress. He is guided towards wisdom and moral enlightenment by the seven tales of love told to him by his brides, the Princesses of the Seven Climes. Each tale depicts a love-quest which ends sometimes in failure. more often in fulfilment, as desire is guided by virtue. Haft Pykar means `Seven Images\Portraits\Beauties', and it refers to the seven princesses, their seven tales, and the seven planets. Julie Scott Meisami's new verse translation captures the beauty and sophistication of the original, and her introduction, detailed notes, and maps of the Middle East in Nizami's time make this masterpiece of the twelfth century accessible to a wide audience. This book is intended for students of Middle and Near Eastern Literature, of Islamicate culture, students of medieval or comparative literature from undergraduate level upwards. Translated with an introduction and notes by: Meisami, Julie Scott (Lecturer in Persian, Oriental Institute, Oxford);