The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam is a collection of Persian quatrains (four-line poems) attributed to the 11th-12th century Persian polymath Omar Khayyam, though it was popularized in the English-speaking world by Edward FitzGerald's 1859 free translation. The poems explore themes of life's transience, the search for meaning, the joys of earthly pleasures, and the mysteries of existence, often using metaphors of wine and revelry.
 
Key Aspects
Author: Omar Khayyam (1048–1122), a Persian mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher, not primarily known as a poet in his lifetime.
Content: A collection of rubaiyat (quatrains) that reflect on existential questions, the fleeting nature of life, and the importance of living in the moment.
 
Translator: Edward FitzGerald, whose 1859 English translation brought the work to widespread popularity in the West.
 
Themes:
Transience of Life: The poems emphasize that life is short and that one should embrace its pleasures.
 
Hedonism and Skepticism: Khayyam's verses blend a love for earthly pleasures with a skeptical questioning of life's deeper mysteries.
 
Nature and Love: The beauty of nature and the essence of love are praised.
 
Legacy: The Rubaiyat became a sensation in the late 19th century, leading to the formation of "Omar Khayyam clubs" and a "fin de siècle cult of the Rubaiyat".
 
Collector’s Edition
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Features include:
 
- Fully bound in genuine leather.
- 22kt gold deeply inlaid on the “hubbed” spine.
- Superbly printed on acid-neutral paper that lasts for generations.
- Sewn pages – not just glued like ordinary books.
- Satin-ribbon page marker.
- Gilded page ends.
- Bound in the USA. Imported materials.
- Rigorous inspection at every stage ensures adherence to our exacting standards.
- Superb craftsmanship and commitment to quality.