The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám is a timeless collection of poetic verses that explores the themes of love, mortality, and the passage of time. Translated beautifully from Persian, this edition captures the essence of Khayyám's profound wisdom and insight.

The simplicity and elegance of the language used in these quatrains make them accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Khayyám's unique perspective on life and the universe is both thought-provoking and inspiring, encouraging readers to contemplate their own existence and purpose.

The themes of carpe diem and the impermanence of life are prominent throughout the Rubáiyát, reminding readers of the importance of living in the present moment and making the most of each day. Khayyám's imagery and metaphors are vivid and evocative, painting a picture of a world filled with beauty and transience.

Overall, the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám is a literary masterpiece that has stood the test of time. It is a must-read for those who appreciate profound poetry and philosophical reflection.

Book Description:
In 1867 Jean Baptiste Nicolas , scholar and career diplomat, published the first major French translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. This version is in prose and the collection contains 464 verses.

In Nicolas’ view, Omar was no Epicurean reveler but rather a relentless spiritual seeker – his frequent allusions to wine and lovers are metaphors, expressive of a divine discontent that can only be resolved by union with a mystical beloved. However, most other translators and commentators regard Omar as a man who sampled and enjoyed both earthly and philosophical delights.

In 1903 Frederic Rolfe, the self styled “Baron Corvo”, published an English translation of Nicolas’ version. In the same year Robert Arnot published a collection of translations which also included an English version of Nicolas’ text. While both these translations are in prose, Rolfe’s version, with its heraldic and evocative verbiage, and its presentation of Omar as a more rounded personality than Nicolas’ etiolated mystic, can be considered, as with Fitzgerald’s celebrated translation, as an independent work of art.