Omar Khayyam Poems


Book Description

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.




Quatrains of Omar Khayyam, Astronomer-Poet of Persia


Book Description

Omar Khayyam (11th-12th centuries CE), a celebrated polymath, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher is best known as a Persian poet and author of the RubÄ â ~iyÄ t, but his validity as a poet is highly debated. To address this, this book focuses on 100 quatrains that have been authenticated by three known Persian authorities. To bring out Khayyamâ (TM)s voice, inner feelings and thoughts, this unique bilingual volume provides the Persian originals side-by-side with their literal translations in English. This serves to bring the reader closer to the originals, and allows them to make connections and draw conclusions according to their time and place in life.







The Wine of Wisdom


Book Description

The intoxicating message of Khayyam’s famous Ruba‘iyyat created an image of exotic Orientalism in the West but, as author Mehdi Aminrazavi reveals, Khayyam’s achievements went far beyond the intoxicating message within these verses. Philosopher, mathematician, scientist, and mystic – his many different identities are examined here in detail, creating a coherent picture of this complex and often misunderstood figure.




The Ruba'iyat of Omar Khayyam


Book Description

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.







The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam


Book Description

Perhaps the most widely known poem in the world, the Rubaiyat has captured the imagination of millions of readers down the centuries. Its simple eloquence and lilting rhymes form an elegy to the transience of life and the beauty of human experience. The Rubaiyat resonates with readers around the world. Simultaneously hedonistic and reflective, sensual and philosophical, it translates the contradictions of human nature into succinct, lyrical verse. This collector’s edition, with page decorations by Edmund Dulac throughout, contains a detailed introduction to the poem by John Baldock. Originally penned in 11th-century Persia by astronomer and philosopher Omar Khayyam, the Rubaiyat was translated into English in the 19th century by scholar Edward Fitzgerald and gained a new lease on life.




The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám


Book Description

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!







The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam


Book Description

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.