First published in 1959, this reprint of the first edition of Edward FitzGerald’s translation of the Rubáiyát is accompanied by an introduction and notes by A J Arberry, one of Britain’s most distinguished Orientalist scholars. The Rubáiyát is a selection of poems written in Persian attributed to Omar Khayyám. The work will be of interest to those studying Middle Eastern Literature.

A repository of subversive, melancholic and existentialist themes and ideas, the rubaiyat (quatrains) that make up the collected poems attributed to the 12th century Persian astronomer Omar Khayyam have enchanted readers for centuries. In this modern translation, complete with critical introduction and epilogue, Juan Cole elegantly renders the verse for contemporary readers. Exploring such universal questions as the meaning of life, fate and how to live a good life in the face of human mortality, this translation reveals anew why this singular collection of poems has struck a chord with such a temporally and culturally diverse audience, from the wine houses of medieval Iran to the poets of Western twentieth century modernism.

The poems attributed to Omar Khayyam have a universal and timeless philosophical theme: life is a meaningful journey even if brief and uncertain. They inspire an unconstrained free-thinking mindset and a wise realization that guides thinking persons: it is impossible to see the absolute truth, as the universe has its own reality that remains largely hidden, and that one must think and act accordingly. This book presents a selection of Khayyam's poems in their original Persian language along with their English translations in a faithful and modern version. By relying only on the original Persian version of Khayyam's poems, and using the author's own body of literary and linguistic knowledge, this book presents a modern translation of Omar Khayyam's poems since Edward Fitzgerald's Rubaiyat in 1859.

Philosopher, astronomer and mathematician, Khayyam as a poet possesses a singular originality. His poetry is richly charged with evocative power and offers a view of life characteristic of his stormy times, with striking relevance to the present day. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

"Omar Khayyam's famous poem, The Rubaiyat, is loved by Westerners as a hymn of praise to sensual delights. In the East, his quatrains enjoy a very different reputation: they are known as a deep allegory of the souls romance with God. Even there, however, the knowing is based on who and what Omar Khayyam was: a sage and mystic. As for what the quatrains actually mean, most of them have remained a mystery in the East as much as in the West. After eight centuries, Paramhansa Yogananda, one of the great mystics of our times, a master of yoga and the author of the now-classic Autobiography of a Yogi, explained the mystery behind Omar's famous poem. This book contains the essence of that great revelation."--From the publisher.

The bestselling author of Autobiography of a Yogi unlocks the hidden spiritual meaning of one of the most famous and richest poems in the English language. A beautiful and inspirational gift item, this handsome new volume features nine high quality black and white illustrations.

David Ramsey's reinterpretation of the Edward FitzGerald English-language version of the classic Omar Khayyam poem, The Rubaiyat, began with his displeasure of the oft-quoted verse: "Here with a loaf of Bread Beneath..." The author says: "I thought this sounded more Victorian than Persian. I think Omar meant something more like this: 'With a book of verse beneath the bough...' For my own amusement I then proceeded to deflower other of Fitzgerald's translations of Khayyam's poetry. The challenge was to make suitable alternatives to those famous verses that have made The Rubaiyat one of the best-known works of poetry in the English language. One might say that I plagiarized the author, or his principal translator, or both--but I consider this more as an unholy collaboration between the three of us over the centuries. I hope my two unwitting collaborators would not be displeased with my reinterpretation of their efforts." Ramsey's irreverent verses are amusing, full of philosophical wit, and very relevant indeed to today's free-swinging culture. Great reading! Great fun!