The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam - British Library

"Opening on 14 December in the Folio Society Gallery at the British Library, The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam marks the 150th anniversary of Edward FitzGerald's publication of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam - an interpretation of the poetical work attributed to an 11th century Persian mathematician, astronomer and philosopher. The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam is one of the best known poems in the world. It has been translated into 85 languages. It is among the most widely illustrated of all literary works, with over 130 known illustrators, and it has also inspired many composers. Since the English translation by Edward FitzGerald (1809-83) was first published 150 years ago, the poem has been continually reissued, with some 2000 new editions and reprints worldwide by 2009. It has also been widely parodiedand used in advertising. This exhibitiontells the unlikely story of a medieval Persian scientist and poet and a Victorian English writer, and the way their verses achieved international acclaim"