Our Layla design reproduces a binding that contained an epic Persian romance.
The 18th-century binding of the Khamsa (c. 1575), also known as the Five Treasures in English, is the best-known work of the Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi (c. 1141–1209).
Considered the greatest romantic poet in Persian literature and described as a “creator of poetic scenes,” Nizami brought a colloquial and otherworldly quality to the Persian epic.
The Five Treasures consisted of five long narrative poems. The first of these, Makhzan-ol-Asrâr, was influenced by Sanai Ghaznavi’s The Walled Garden of Truth, an early Sufi book of mystical poetry. The four other poems are medieval romances.
Nizami’s romance story of Layla and Majnun provided the namesake for Eric Clapton’s hit single “Layla,” from the album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, which was highly influenced by Nizami and his poetry of unrequited love.
The delicately adorned cover of this Layla journal, the second title in our Persian Poetry series, reflects the beauty of the words held within the original 18th-century book.
Perfect for bringing a touch of romance to your everyday, Layla is available as a mini, midi, and ultra hardcover journal.
