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The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám

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The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám

By: Edward FitzGerald
Narrated by: Jeffrey Ito
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Summary

Omar Khayyám (1048–1122) was a Persian mathematician, astronomer, and a philosopher who was not known as a poet in his lifetime. Later, a body of quatrains became attached to his name, although not all were his works. These verses lay in obscurity until 1859, when Edward FitzGerald (1809–1883), an English country gentleman, published a free adaptation of this Persian poetry. After its discovery by D. G. Rossetti and others, the verse became extremely popular. Essentially a hedonist and a skeptic, Omar Khayyám, through FitzGerald, spoke with both an earthy and spiritual freedom that stirred a universal response. As a result, the Rubáiyát became one of the best-known and most often quoted English classics. The fifth edition, published posthumously in 1889, was based on FitzGerald's handwritten changes in a copy of the fourth edition, and is traditionally printed with the first edition.

©2012 Edward FitzGerald (P)2025 Edward FitzGerald
Ancient, Classical & Medieval Literature Consciousness & Thought Literary History & Criticism Middle Eastern Movements Philosophy Poetry Themes & Styles World Literature
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It sounded like it was recorded in a cupboard or prison cell. Really echoed. Spoilt the verse.

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