The Invisible Sun: A Live Reading with Sholeh Wolpé
Details
Join us for an evening with renowned Iranian-American poet, playwright, and translator Sholeh Wolpé, as she presents The Invisible Sun: A Guide for the Soul from Rumi’s Master, her luminous new translation of the poetry of 12th-century Sufi mystic Attar of Nishapur.
Through a live reading followed by an audience Q&A and book signing, Wolpé will bring to life the spiritual depth and lyrical beauty of Attar’s verses—offering a unique opportunity to engage with a mystical tradition that has shaped centuries of Persian literature and inspired poets from Rumi to Hafez.
You can watch a powerful example of her work in performance—an evening of dance and music set to her interpretation and translation of Attar’s The Conference of the Birds, staged at the Getty Villa Museum in Los Angeles:🎥 Watch the performance
About the Book
The Invisible Sun: A Guide for the Soul from Rumi’s Master is a luminous new translation of poetry by 12th-century mystic Attar of Nishapur, whom Rumi revered as his spiritual teacher. This collection introduces English-language readers to the depth and beauty of Attar’s work, revealing timeless reflections on love, surrender, and spiritual transformation. In lyrical and accessible verse, Wolpé brings Attar’s mystic fire to the present day—reminding us that "the only failure is to stand still."
About Sholeh Wolpé
Wolpé an Iranian-American poet, playwright, and librettist whose work spans seven poetry collections, multiple plays, and acclaimed translations of classical Persian literature. Her translation of The Conference of the Birds by Attar (W.W. Norton) was hailed as a literary triumph, and her memoir in verse Abacus of Loss was named one of the most accessible contemporary verse works by The Mary Sue. She is the recipient of the PEN/Heim, the Lois Roth Translation Prize, and the Opera America Discovery Award. Wolpé is currently Writer-in-Residence at the University of California, Irvine, and divides her time between California and Barcelona. www.sholehwolpe.com
About Attar
Attar of Nishapur (c. 1145–1221) was a Sufi master, poet, and apothecary whose teachings deeply shaped Islamic mysticism. Best known for The Conference of the Birds, Attar's work explores the soul’s path to the divine through metaphor, parable, and poetic insight. Rumi famously said, “Attar has traversed the seven cities of love, while I am still at the bend of the first alley.” Despite his immense influence, much of Attar's poetry remains little known in the West—a gap Wolpé’s translation powerfully bridges.
The Invisible Sun: A Live Reading with Sholeh Wolpé