Nasrudin is an international folk hero of medieval origin, but has timeless appeal. His role changes, sometimes he is the sage, sometimes the fool: he is courtier, beggar, physician, judge and teacher. Whether his anecdotes are studied for their hidden wisdom, or enjoyed for their pungent humour, they are an enduring part of the world's cultural heritage.

Stories about Nasrudin appear in literature and oral traditions from nations in the Middle East to China. It was Idries Shah who introduced us to the wisdom, wit and charm of this mysterious mentor through his collection of stories.

Idries Abutahir Shah was a controversial figure whose life straddled the East and West. Raised in hiss father's Sunni Muslim faith and claiming a family lineage stretching back to Mohammed, Shah was born in 1924 in Simla, India, to a Scottish mother. The family moved to England when Shah was still young, and he attended high school in Oxford. Shah did not actually come into contact with Sufi dervishes until the age of thirty, after which he wrote the books oriental Magic and Destination Mecca.

A polymath, he was active in a range of social and cultural issues, and founded the institute for Cultural Research. He lectured in many countries. Popular in society circles for his wit and wisdom, the author attracted literary figures such as Doris Lessing and Robert Graves.

Shah wrote over thirty-five books, many of which were bestsellers. He died in 1996.

The Subtleties of the Inimitable- Mulla Nasrudin

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