Product Description
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam is a collection of poems authored by Persian astronomer and mathematician Omar Khayyam. The poems in this title are written into quatrains, Rubaiyat being arabic for root of four, as in four line verses of which quatrains are made up of. This popular edition of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam is the edition by Edward Fitzgerald, who translated this work in the late 19th century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (40)

Better a live sparrow than a stuffed eagle
It is somewhat ironic (one might say "tragic") that Amazon chooses to lump reviews of multiple translations into each version of a book; in the case of the Rubaiyat, the two prevailing translations--FitzGerald's, and Avery and Heath-Stubbs'--could not be more different.As a general reader not terribly knowledgeable about Persian literature, I struggled before deciding on which version to read; influenced by the leading reviewer on this page, I read the FitzGerald version with illustrations by Dulac and the introduction by Byatt.

As a reader and occasional translator of a foreign language myself (although Japanese, not Persian) I was hesitant to read a version (one hesitates to call it a "translation") this old and this famously derided for its looseness with the original work by Omar Khayyam.And yet after comparing the two translations, I am glad that I read FitzGerald, for two main reasons.

First, true to his intention, FitzGerald accentuated the spirit of the original over the literal translation/transliteration of the original.The delightful impishness of Khayyam and the melancholy ephemerality of his Rubaiyat is wonderfully captured.FitzGerald made this artistic choice consciously, stating that "better a live sparrow than a stuffed eagle" ... although this modesty downplays the beautiful lyricism and Victorian elegance of his version.

Second, for better or for worse, this is the version that most captivated--and influenced--the world outside of Persia, including writers from Browning and Tennyson to O. Henry and Borges to Agatha Christie and Stephen King.Even the person who has not heard of Khayyam or the Rubaiyat and could not even locate Iran on a map has heard of "a jug of wine, a loaf of bread, and thou".It is hardly an overstatement to credit FitzGerald for this.

That said, I completely sympathize with those who view FitzGerald as an unfaithful artist unworthy of the title 'translator' and who view his version of the Rubaiyat as an abomination.Indeed, it is advisable to read his version in concert with a more faithful translation such as Avery and Heath-Stubbs'.That said, for the general reader with an open mind, FitzGerald's version is more likely to be the more captivating, the more likely to tickle the imagination and captivate the spirit.Warts and all, FitzGerald's "live sparrow" has survived the generations for a reason.

Enjoy while you are here and while it lasts
Peter Avery had indicated at the beginning that his objective to create a literal translation and that he seems to have done well. However, to me, a lot of it sounds a bit too prosaic and repetitive since the subtleties seem to have been lost in the process (and this has to with translation of poetry in general). Khayyam suggests to enjoy the life here with a jug of wine and a tulip cheeked one instead of getting into knots about metaphysical quandaries and existential qualms. Will try again later to see if it leaves a different impression.

omar wins again
anexcellent reasonably priced edition of a popular philosophical statement that should cause all new readers to review closely any beliefs they currently hold about the big eternal questions. read it and be astounded ...

Find a better translation than Fitzgerald's
Edward Fitzgerald was a mediocre Orientalist with a faulty command of Farsi, and his translations of Spanish poetry are forgotten. Why he is still considered a competent - even brilliant - translator of this work of Persian poetry is a bit of a mystery to me. Omar Khayyam's work is a multidimensional set of meditations on many topics, most notably the impermanence of all things, and is admittedly a hard nut to crack for any translator due to the amount of controversy around which manuscripts are genuine and how many quatrains Omar Khayyam actually wrote (various editions run from just over one hundred to well over one thousand). As a result, even a serious poet like Robert Graves The Original Rubaiyyat of Omar Khayyam and a serious Orientalist like A.J. Arberry Omar Khayyam: a New Version Based Upon Discoveries have been taken in by forgeries or frauds. I very much like the Friedrich Rosen translation Quatrains of Omar Khayyam, which is unfortunately out of print and can only be had for a great deal of money on Amazon. I have glanced at the much more easily accessible translation by Avery and Heath-Stubbs The Ruba'iyat of Omar Khayyam (Penguin Classics), and it seems to be worth recommending, too.

not bad
A little repetitive...

No point in worrying... enjoy life at the moment... can't control birth or death so lets get drunk and make love


But pretty. ... Read more

Product Description
Now 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, explains the mystery behind Omar's famous mystical poem. The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam Explained is available at last, edited by one of Yogananda's close disciples, J. Donald Walters. This new & expanded version is now available in paperback. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Understanding Khayyam

Lo! some we loved, the loveliest and best
That Time and Fate of all their Vintage prest,
Have drunk their Cup a Round or two before,
And one by one crept silently to Rest.

Omar Khayyam
==========================================

I wish I could understand Omar Khayyam...

A scholarly examination of the work from some of the best minds of Yoga walking the earth today
Poetry can mean many things, but occasionally, the intention is missed. "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam Explained" is a scholarly examination of the work from some of the best minds of Yoga walking the earth today. In the west, it's a poem of sensual delight, in the east it's a poem of a relationship with God - who has it right, if any of them? A deeply philosophical set of writing that will surely please a great many readers, "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam Explained" will enlighten and educate. ... Read more

Product Description
Nourished by an admiration of Khayyam that has been with him since childhood, Aminrazavi's comprehensive new biography reintroduces the figure of Khayyam, and his great achievements, to the Western world. Blending a readable and accessible narrative with scholarly ambition and years of research, Aminrazavi's work covers not only Khayyam's well-known poetry, but also his extraordinary life, his neglected philosophical writings and the impact of his work in the West. It features a variety of supporting material, including original translations and the full text of Fitzgerald's Rubaiyyat, and will prove an ideal biography for those who want to know more about the poets inspired by Rumi. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A good overview
This book reviewed many writers/articles on these 13th Century poems and the mathamation/philosopher poet(or poets) who is (are)responsible for them. The information was interesting and helpful.Background into the times and traditions was included.

enlightened reading
The seems to be a lot of redundancy in the first part of the book but the overall information, history and review of the philosophy is well presented.
A very interesting book and enjoyable to read.

The Ultimate Treatise on Khayyam
I am a filmmaker who spent 7 years making a feature film about the legendary mathematician, astronomer, poet of Persia, Omar Khayyam.I cannot think of another book published in this world that gives a more complete and thorough understanding of Khayyam.Dr. Aminrazavi's book is a scholarly masterpiece that illuminates the reader's mind with well researched, solid facts debunking the myths surrounding Khayyam.Each chapter clearly lays out the author's own struggle with what is fact and what is fiction.The book also explores Khayyam's vast influence on literature in the West.If there is anyone out there who wants an encyclopedic look into the mind of the 11th Century genius with the soul of a poet, look no further...purchase Wine of Wisdom today! ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
In 1859, Edward Fitzgerald translated into English the short, epigrammatic poems (or "rubáiyát") of medieval Persian poet Omar Khayyám. Except his translation was not truly a translation. His Omar seems to have read Lucretius, Shakespeare, and the King James Bible. Nevertheless, the poem conveyed some of the most beautiful and haunting images in English poetry--and some of the sharpest-edged--and by the end of the century, it was one of the best-known poems in the English language. Daniel Karlin's richly annotated edition focuses on the poem as a work of Victorian literary art, doing justice to the scope and complexity of Fitzgerald's lyrical meditation on "human death and fate." Karlin provides a history of publication and revision, a long critical introduction, and extensive textual and explanatory notations. He documents the poem's treatment of its Persian sources, along with its multiple affiliations with English and Classical literature and to the Bible. A selection of contemporary reviews offers an insight into the poem's early reception, including the first attack on its status as a translation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (Oxford World's Classics)
This book is academic and better than manywhich include only one of the Fitzgerald's several editions. It includes the first edition curiously with only 2 quatrains on a page. The other editions are 'confounded' in a 4 page "TABLES OF CORRESPONDING STANZAS"and 20 pages of annotated VARIANTS. That is an inefficient way to show the extraordinary improvements in the impact of key stanzas made by a brilliant mind tinkering with a masterpeice over decades.

The Rubiayat uses 4 line stanzas urging us to enjoy life. Much of its power is in the superb changes which Fitzgerald made over time. For example the last two verses of the 4th edition which suggest the way the living should honor their dead loved ones I find much better than the earlier versions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

It took a millennium for the Rubaiyat to be unveiled
Omar Khayyam was a multifaceted man who lived at around the time thesecond millennium of the Christian era was beginning. He was not only ascientist but also a Sufi mystic, and his Rubaiyat (book of verses inquatrains) has evoked much interest and endless debate. The best knownEnglish translation is that of Edward FitzGerald. Here is a sampleverse:

"Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath the Bough / A Flask ofWine, a Book of Verse---and Thou / Beside me singing in the Wilderness ---/

And Wilderness is Paradise enow."/

Whose imagination can fail tobe stirred? But most people see this as a glorification of wine, women andsong -- a handbook of hedonism. Could such an earthy and earthly book be inkeeping with Khayyam's reputation as a Sufi mystic and a saint? Now towardsthe end of the millennium, the Indian saint, mystic and spiritual leaderParamahansa Yogananda has commented on the Rubaiyat in his book "Wineof the Mystic."Omar was indeed a mystic. The divine intoxication ofthe love and joy of God could only be conveyed to the people of his agethrough metaphors and allegory that described the pleasures they couldunderstand. One must read the Rubaiyat in conjunction with "Wine ofthe Mystic" to really get to the heart and soul of one of the world'sclassic books.

SIMPLY WONDERFUL
i have just recently read this book.it trancends east to west..has a more spiritual value tham most books of this kind ...of couse we all know that Khayyam was a scientist well.. and he shows some of that in his writings...yet these writings come as pleasure ..i would like to extend all of you ainvitation to enjoy this book ...it.s a pleasure ... Read more

Product Description
This Halcyon Classics eBook contains Edward FitzGerald's famous translation of 'The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam,' a collection of more than a thousand verses of poetry.Originally written in Persian, The Rubaiyat has been translated into dozens of languages. ... Read more

Product Description
In the 10th century, Omar Khayyam became established as one of the major mathematicians and astronomers of the medieval period. He also contributed to the calendar reform and may have proposed a heliocentric theory well before Copernicus.

The 10th century Persian mathematician and astronomer was unquestionably a genius. Despite being so mathematically gifted, he was also a singular poet. His quatrains express some of the deepest feeling and thoughts ever put to paper by the hand of man.

The translation and compilation of 101 quatrains of Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat by Edward Fitzgerald has become recognized as a separate entity, a work of art above and beyond the original, which has added immeasurably to the English language itself. With the visionary renditions of Fitzgerald and Dulac, The Illustrated Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam is art that speaks to both the aesthetic and intellectual foundations of the human spirit. It exemplifies the qualities that define art.

This 50-page colored special edition is designed to be collected, treasured and gifted to close friends and loved ones. ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Literary Criticism ... Read more

Product Description
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam was written anonymously in the 11th century by a poet who was known in his time as a highly skilled mathematician.Edward Fitzgerald translated the work anonymously in 1859 supplying the English-speaking world with an adaptation rather than a strict translation of Omar Khayyam's poem.But not until Rosetti discovered Fitzgerald's translation in 1860 did the work start on its way to becoming the traditional, most popular and often-quoted translation of this now famous work. ... Read more

Product Description
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam as translated by Edward FitzGerald has long been one of the most beloved, and least understood, poems in the English language. In an illuminating new interpretation, Paramahansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi, reveals the mystical essence of this enigmatic masterpiece, bringing to light the deeper truth and beauty behind its veil of metaphor. Commonly thought to be a celebration of wine and other worldly pleasures, these lyrical Persian quatrains find their true voice when read as a hymn to the transcendent joys of Spirit.

This beautifully illustrated edition of Wine of the Mystic introduces for the first time in book form Paramahansa Yogananda's complete commentaries on an enduring treasure of world literature. Yogananda said: "One day as I was deeply concentrated on the pages of Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat, I suddenly beheld the walls of its outer meanings crumble away, and the vast inner fortress of golden spiritual treasures stood open to my gaze. Ever since, I have admired the beauty of the previously invisible castle of inner wisdom in the Rubaiyat. I have felt that this dream-castle of truth, which can be seen by any penetrating eye, would be a haven for many shelter-seeking souls invaded by enemy armies of ignorance. Profound spiritual treatises by some mysterious divine law do not disappear from the earth even after centuries of misunderstanding, as in the case of the Rubaiyat. Not even in Persia is all of Omar Khayyam's deep philosophy understood in its entirety, as I have tried to present it."

Winner of the 1995 Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Book in the Field of Religion, this edition features 50 beautiful original color illustrations and includes Persian text and spiritual commentary to each quatrain. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Visually stunning and an esoteric piece of work!
The spiritual interpretation of "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam" by Paramahansa Yogananda reveals to the reader the depth of Yogananda's spiritual understanding and attainment. Yogananda interprets the poems in a very esoteric manner which leaves all sincere readers on the spiritual path breathless with admiration and veneration for Omar Khayyam.

Yogananda's commentaries on these poems will bring every scholar on mystical Islam to shame. His depth of understanding on Sufism is a welcome diversion of Yogananda's main spiritual books. Yogananda's main goal was to show the unity of Hinduism and Christianity to the West. But this book clearly shows to the world that Yogananda DID NOT neglect the second most popular religion of this primitive earth - that is Islam.

The illustrations are amazingly beautiful with a touch of Islamic art. But it is the interpretations of the poems that this book shines out. There are three levels of interpretations of each poem. The word for word translation; the practical application of the poem and last but certainly not the least, the deeper spiritual meaning and application of the poems.

Lastly I would love to recommend this piece of timeless art to all the Muslims in this sordid world. The reason is because this book shows the reader the deeper aspect of Islam - which is Sufism. Muslim mystics like Rumi and Khayyam are dangerous to orthodox Muslims because these mystics have already realized Allah and are beyond the mundane rituals of basic Islam. Their state of spiritual attainment is similar to that of Yogananda, Jesus, Buddha, Ramakrishna, Sai Baba, and so on.

Thus no one is in a better position than Yogananda (except for those souls who have God realization), to interpret these poems the way Khayyam had intended it to be understood. I would also like to recommend other books about Sufism which would compliment this book beautifully.

MISTRANSLATIONS COMMENTED BY MANY STOCK PHRASES
In the Fitzgerald text that HH Yogananda comments, the Persian poem is not truly TRANSLATED: that is well explained in the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Yogananda dispensed with real translations to base his commentary on. That was unwise, for translators of the poem see how great the differences are between Fitzgerald's work and a translation of Omar's poem. With such an infirm basis to work on top of, the "interpretations of Omar" by Yogananda become formidable hocus-pocus - they are, rather, what he reads into Fitzgerald's book - which differs from the work of Khayyam considerably.

(1) In this process Yogananda uses mistranslations as deep symbols to interpret; hence ERRONEUS guru dealings.

(2) He repeats himself up to gruesomely by STOCK PHRASES - very boring to some.

(3) MESS: To complicate things further, there are today TWO VERSIONS that lay claims on bringing Yogananda's (non-savoury) interpretations. These independent versions often differ. It means you may not be sure you get the true wordings of Yogananda - after the essentials of Khayyam have been done away with by Fitzgerald.

CONCLUSION SO FAR: In this work there is too much inept or senile-looking handling to deal with.

Eternal spiritual truths resurface after a millenium
"It takes one to know one," is here shown to apply to mystics.In this award-winning volume, Twentieth Century Indo-American sage Paramahansa Yogananda applies his irrepressible spiritual pursuit to Omar Khayyam's Twelfth Century masterpiece. Like most cultures through the ages, Kayyam's Persia was much friendlier to his mainstream career (in mathematics and astronomy) than to his spiritual revelations. The wondrous poetic beauties which sparkle through his Rubaiyat express his personal, non-canonical insights into Enlightenment (aka: the Kingdom of Heaven, Nirvana, Samadhi) are in metaphors - symbolisms whose spiritual implications register only for those "who have eyes to see" - who have themselves had a glimpse of higher spiritual realms.

The publisher of Wine of the Mystic has included an eye-opening foreword to this volume that puts these complexities into perspective, including 1) the fact that Edward FitzGerald (translator for the most famous English-language editions) only grudging acknowledged the mystical significance of the work, 2) FitzGerald's poetic techniques that faithfully capture the *spirit* of stanzas even when they are not linear translations, 3) the tradition among Sufi mystical poets of using wine as a symbol for Divine Intoxication.

Why should a poem that is merely (on the surface) a hymn to the joys of drunkenness survive for a millenium and continue to fascinate cultures around the world in languages so unlike its author's?In his introductory words, Yogananda summarizes the miracle of FitzGerald's (apparently materialist) translation by called him "divinely inspired to catch exactly in gloriously musical English words the soul of Omar's writings."To those who have received a hint of the Divine Intoxication, a deep intuitive chord may be struck by Yogananda's explanation: "Profound spiritual treatises by some mysterious divine law do not disappear from the earth even after centuries of misunderstanding, as in the case of the Rubaiyat."

As to the book itself (Wine of the Mystic)? The awards it has won, the beauty of its color illustrations, tastefully selected type faces, and rich reproduction make this volume irresistable immediately upon opening its pages.Readers are then embraced by Yogananda's sensitive and unprecedented bouquet of insights as they are welcomed to a never before dreamed of wine-tasting.

There is *no* edition to compare. This volume will reward your reading and re-reading for years. A gorgeous gift item.

CONTENTS:
Introduction of author's (Yogananda) insights.
Foreword of publisher's (Self-Realization Fellowship) history and spiritual perspectives on the Rubaiyat's.
Presentation of each Rubaiyat quatrain, along with FitzGerald's translation, Yogananda's glossary of spiritual symbolism, Spiritual Commentary, and Practical Implications for the reader's spiritual work.
Addendum reprinting all of the verses (FitzGerald translation) without interruption.

The Universal Truth
as interpreted by Yogananda.Here Yogananda does a commentary
on "the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam."Also an interpretation.Yogananda made
the fatal error of believing that there was only one religion or truth.And that he,
himself, could discern it in all religions.He did that with the Bible.He does
this here with a Sufi poem.But this is a fine book.Very beautiful.But Yogananda's
Self-Realization Fellowship was and is Hinduism straight up the middle.Not
Original Christianity and Original Yoga as he claimed.So this book is an Islamic
poem as interpreted by a Hindu.And I think that you had better realize that
before you buy this book.And it is a beautiful book.Yogananda was always a
great writer.Most of his books are real "choppy" because they are taken from talks.
But when he wrote, it was excellent.He was quite a writer.And it comes out
in this book.But if you want the "real stuff," buy Yogananda's "God Talks to

Arjuna."Thank you.

EVERY QUATRAIN IS NOW A DEEP & ENLIGHTENING SPIRITUAL LESSON
This wonderful book is not just A TRANSLATION of the Rubaiyat, it is a collection of deep spiritual discourses which are meant as an exhortation to the soul (what we essentially are) to transcend beyond this ephemeral world of temporary illusion and to ever constantly search for the realtruth which lies within every one of us. ... Read more

Product Description
Text in Swedish. Illustrated with black-and-white and color plates. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Rubaiyat Of Omar Khayyam
This is a wonderful edition! It has a nice layout, informative introduction, and beautiful illustrations by Edmund Dulac. Its presentation of all five Fitzgerald editions makes it well worth the investment. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Beware the incompetent typesetting
This otherwise lovely edition is marred by incompetent typesetting, where the typesetter has messed up the line-spacing, causing half of the Rubaiyat to be split across pages, which for me makes them unreadable. This is such an elementary mistake it takes the breath away. After the typesetter made that mistake, presumably an editor at some level approved it.

Not a real Everyman!
The edition shown is basically a reinforced paperback, and my rating reflects Amazon's mistaken identification of this as an Everyman poetry edition -- wrong publisher folks!Do not be misled into thinking this is one of the superior Knopf/Random House Everyman's Library editions.

The lesson here is that if you want a _real_ Everyman edition of a popular title, first check the catalog at [...], search Amazon using the correct ISBN and only then place your order.Caveat emptor.

Unfortunately, Khayyam isn't directly listed in their catalog; it is included in the Pocket Poets series within Persian Poets, ISBN 0375411267 ... Read more

Product Description
Though few translations have had as much impact as Edward Fitzgerald's Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, anyone who wishes to truly appreciate Omar Khayyám needs to read more than one translation. This volume contains Edward Fitzgerald's classic translation with all its variations, Justin McCarthy's elegant and mystical literal translation and Richard Le Gallienne's sharp and poetic version. For the first time the reader can appreciate the range of Omar Khayyám and his interpreters in a single volume.Give me a flagon of red wine, a book of verses, a loaf of bread, and a little idleness. If with such store I might sit by thy dear side in some lonely place, I should deem myself happier than a king in his kingdom.

A book, a woman, and a flask of wine:The three make heaven for me; it may be thineIs some sour place of singing cold and bare—But then, I never said thy heaven was mine. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Omar Khayyam
I was aware of the Fitzgerald translation.The other two translations in the book are equally high quality.

Excellent work by Richard Le Gallienne
I should start off by saying that I am not familiar with Omar Khayyam or his work. I should also state that Richard La Gallienne's translation is likely completely unlike the literal translation. His effort was only to produce a witty and stylish version reminiscent of Khayyam's original intent. From what I have read, it is excellent on its own. I do not generally go in for poetry, but found that I couldn't stop reading this work. Here are some especially interesting excerpts:

Look not above, there is no answer there;
Pray not, for no one listens to your prayer;
Near is as near to God as any Far,
And Here is just the same deceit as There.

[...]

And do you think that unto such as you;
A maggot-minded, starved, fanatic crew:
God gave the secret, and denied it me?--
Well, well, what matters it! Believe that, too.

[...]

"Did God set grapes a-growing, do you think,
And at the same time make it sin to drink?
Give thanks to Him who foreordained it thus--
Surely He loves to hear the glasses clink!" ... Read more

Product Description
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam with the classic Edward Fitzgerald translation into English is available in a pocket-sized edition. This facsimile illuminated manuscript features 178 pages of Persian calligraphy with the English translation over 34 pages. This edition also includes 16 Persian miniature illustrations by Gholam Ali Mohebinejad. Tehran: Jayhoon Jayhoon Publications, 1387 (2008 CE). Hardcover. ISBN 9646534791. ... Read more