An authoritative but accessible introduction to this important 13th-century historian and mystic poet Rumi, this work concentrates on the social and cultural environment in which he lived and produced his influential works. The book describes the war-torn lives of the people in Asia Minor at the time and states that few figures in history have made an appeal for peace so enlightened that it travelled down the centuries. A selection of passages from Rumi's works is also included, explaining his core philosophy in his own words.