Perhaps there is no more fitting occasion to revisit this beloved book by one of the great Bahá’í authors than the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing. Within the pages of The Sheltering Branch Marzieh Gail offers a tribute to the life and teachings of the Master, highlighting His words and actions, and giving the reader a fleeting glimpse of the days in which He lived. Gail presents passages from the writings and talks of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and draws on the memoirs of her mother, Florence Breed Khan, who spent time in His presence as a pilgrim, to craft this lovingly rendered portrait.

Marzieh Gail (1908–1993) was a Persian-American author and translator. Gail lived in the United States, Iran, and several European countries throughout her life. She held a Master’s degree in English from the University of California, Berkeley; broke new ground as an early female journalist in Tehran; and wrote numerous books, essays, and articles about the Bahá’í Faith and other subjects. She is the translator of several important Bahá’í texts published in English.