RUBAIYAT OF OMAR KHAYYAM

The Rubáiyát of the twelfth-century Persian poet, Omar Khayyám, is a collection of seventy-five unique philosophical quatrains. Spiritual in nature, they convey a haunting blend of joy, melancholy and resignation towards life and mortality. Edward Fitzgerald's translation of the Rubáiyát is one of the most renowned works of literature in the English language. Less a translation than a free rendering inspired by the essence of Omar Khayyám's verse, it has never been surpassed by other, perhaps more literal translations, in its euphoric glow and rhythmic beauty. This exquisite edition includes an introduction by Reynold Alleyne Nicholson, former lecturer in Persian at the University of Cambridge, which explored the character of Omar Khayyám and the Rubáiyát. There are also eight pages of notes, providing cultural and historical reference. Each quatrain is surrounded by a decorative border, while col0r illustrations by René Bull evoke the mystical and exotic charm of the Orient. First published January 1, 1120. Out of Print. Condition: Very Fine.