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The Ruba'iyat of Omar Khayyam

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( 22,880 ratings, 2,301 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Ruba'iyat of Omar Khayyam is a celebrated collection of quatrains written by the Persian poet Omar Khayyam. This work artfully delves into themes of existence, human experience, and the nature of time, often reflecting a philosophical and contemplative view of life. Noted for its rich imagery and profound insights, it continues to inspire readers with its timeless wisdom and beauty.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This collection of evocative and philosophical quatrains might appeal to you if you enjoy exploring timeless themes of love, life, and existential reflection. Rich in metaphor and intricate wordplay, it offers a profound glimpse into Persian culture and the human condition, woven with poetic beauty and wisdom.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Omar Khayyam was revered in eleventh-century Persia as an astronomer, mathematician and philosopher. Presented in short epigrammatic stanza form, this title contains his verses of reckless romanticism and pragmatic fatalism in the face of death.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Writing in the eleventh century, Khayyam was one of the most accomplished masters of the new and increasingly popular ruba'i, or two-line stanza, that had been adopted by poets to help them shake off the artifice of conventional court poetry and express their personal feelings with wit and clarity.

Khayyam ranges in his stanzas through the most fundamental aspects of human experience and, since Edward Fitzgerald's Victorian translation, his verses have been among the most popular in the English language.

In this new translation, the Persian scholar Peter Avery and the poet John Heath-Stubbs have recaptured the sceptical and unorthodox spirit of the Persian text by giving as literal an English version of the original verse as possible.

The Ruba'iyat of Omar Khayyam continues to enchant readers with its timeless themes and unique poetic style.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Ruba'iyat of Omar Khayyam is often praised for its philosophical depth and lyrical beauty. Reviewers frequently highlight its contemplative reflections on life, fate, and the nature of existence. The poetry's timeless elegance and profound insights into human experience resonate with readers, capturing both the imagination and the heart.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780140443844

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 17 September 1981

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by John Heath-Stubbs
  • Translated by Peter Avery

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 8.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 103g

Pages: 128

About the Author

Omar Khayyam is famous as a poet, astronomer and mathematician - he was one of the greatest mathematicians of the Middle Ages. He was born near Nishapur in north-east Persia and is thought to have died in approximately 1122. John Heath-Stubbs published several volumes of poetry, including Collected Poems 1988. He also translated poetry, including Leopardi. He edited selections of Swift, Shelley, TEnnyson and Pope, as well as various anthologies. He received the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 1973 and the OBE in 1989 for services to literature.

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