The poem “Laili and Majnun” by Nizami Ganjavi (12th century) is one of the best examples of romantic epic in world literature. For many centuries, poets, artists, composers of Iran, Turkey, Central Asia and Northern India drew plots and images for their works from this book. The publication contains a philological translation of the poem into Russian with detailed comments, an analytical introductory article, indexes, and Persian text. The book will be of interest to scholars of Iranian culture, to students of Persian literature seeking to read complex poetic texts in the original, as well as to anyone interested in medieval poetry. Contents: N. Chalisova, M. Rusanov. Woe from madness: the sad story of Laili and Majnun 5 Nizami. Lily and Majnun. TranslationChapter 1. “In the name of the all-forgiving Lord!” 79Chapter 2. “Praise of the All-Good Prophet, may the mercy of God be with him!” 96Chapter 3. “Irrefutable proof of the origin of all things” 116Chapter 4. “The reason for the creation of the book” 129Chapter 5. “In praise of Shirvanshah Ikhtasan Ibn Manuchihr” 147Chapter 6. “Greetings from one who kisses the earth” 162Chapter 7. “On the delivery of his son to the son of Shirvanshah” 168Chapter 8. “A complaint against those who envy and reject” 174Chapter 9. “For the edification of his son Muhammad Nizami” 184Chapter 10. “Remembering several departed relatives...” 189Chapter 11. “The beginning of the story” 208Chapter 12. “About how Laili and Majnun fell in love with each other." . . 218Chapter 13. “Description of Majnun’s love” 225Chapter 14. “Majnun’s father goes to woo Layli” 236Chapter 15. “Majnun groans with love for Laili" 243Chapter 16. "Father takes Majnun to Ka'bah" 254Chapter 17. "Father teaches Majnun" 267Chapter 18. "Story" 276Chapter 19. "About Laili's affairs" 279Chapter 20. "Ibn Salam wooes Laili" 299Chapter 21. " Naufal comes to Majnun" 303Chapter 22. "Naufal's battle with the Laili tribe" 316Chapter 23. "Majnun reproaches Naufal" 326Chapter 24. "Naufal's second battle" 329Chapter 25. "Majnun frees the gazelles" 340Chapter 26. "Majnun's appeal to the raven" 35 2Chapter 27 "The old woman brings Majnun to Laili's tent" 357Chapter 28. "The father gives Laili to Ibn Salam" 363Chapter 29. "Majnun learns about Laili's marriage" 375Chapter 30. "Majnun's father comes to see his son" 387Chapter 31. "Father's farewell to Majnun" 400Chapter 32. “Majnun learns of his father’s death.” . . 405Chapter 33. “Majnun’s friendship with wild and predatory animals.” . . 411Chapter 34. “Majnun makes a prayer to the palace of the Most High God” 421Chapter 35. “Laili’s message comes to Majnun” 439Chapter 36. “Majnun’s reply letter to Laili” 455Chapter 37. “Salim Amirit, Majnun’s uncle, comes to see him” 464Chapter 38. “Mother sees Majnun” 471Chapter 39. “Majnun learns about the death of his mother” 476Chapter 40. “Laili calls on Majnun” 482Chapter 41. “Majnun reads ghazals in front of Laili” 490Chapter 42. “Salam Baghdadi meets Majnun” 498Chapter 43. “Death of Ibn” Salam, Laili's husband" 509Chapter 44. "Description of the arrival of autumn and the death of Laili" 517Chapter 45. "The death of Majnun on the grave of Laili" 531Chapter 46. "Completing the book in the name of Shirvanshah" 538Persian text of the poem 543Literature 757Index of Koranic quotations 762Index of names and geographical names 7 65Summary 771