The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
This is the elegant Folio Society edition of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, translated  by Edward Fitzgerald and illustrated with the line drawings of Virgil Burnett. This edition was printed on January 1st in the year 2000, the 15th reprint of Folio's 1970 edition of this enduringly popular work. This edition stands out for its high production values and elaborate design: gold and silver embellishments on a deep red cloth, high quality paper and matching burnished gold slipcase.
Another feature of this edition are the line drawings of Virgil Burnett, whose research as a professor of fine art and body of work as an artist focused on the relationship between art and text. Burnett's evocative illustrations are paired to perfection with Fitzgerald's 19th century translation, each enhancing the interpretation of the other.
The Rubaiyat is a collection of quatrains - stanzas of poetry, four lines each - attributed to the Persian polymath, Omar Khayyam, who lived in what is now north eastern Iran from 1048 to 1131 CE. It was first translated by Edward Fitzgerald in 1859, and this first version is what is presented here. Fitzgerald's work is not a direct translation, but rather a poetic interpretation, drawn from two original Persian manuscripts. It gained massive popularity in Victorian England and the United States, inspiring much discussion about Khayyam's philosophy and beliefs: was he a skeptic, a mystic or a hedonist?
You decide!
This book is a slim octavo measuring 14 cm x 22.5 cm x 1 cm and weighs 207 g. The book itself is in near mint condition, with clean, bright  unmarked pages. It would make a perfect gift for collectors of Folio Society books, poetry enthusiasts or anyone seeking a gift with both literary and artistic history. The slipcase is also in good condition, but has one or two minor scuffs that do not detract. This would appeal to readers who place value on a beautifully produced book as well as on the literary value of the text.