Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, and Salámán and Absál / Together with a Life of Edward Fitzgerald and an Essay on Persian Poetry by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

22535

Title

Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, and Salámán and Absál / Together with a Life of Edward Fitzgerald and an Essay on Persian Poetry by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This collection features Edward FitzGerald's celebrated translation of Omar Khayyam's Rubáiyát, alongside his rendering of Jami's Salámán and Absál. The volume also includes a biographical sketch of FitzGerald and an essay on Persian poetry by Ralph Waldo Emerson. With its tuneful verse, profound themes of fatalism and carpe diem, and rich imagery, this edition offers a timeless exploration of love, wisdom, and the human condition.

Summary up to 500 words

This volume presents a curated selection of Persian poetry, primarily rendered into English verse by Edward FitzGerald. The centerpiece is the *Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám*, a collection of quatrains that masterfully blend intense fatalism with a celebration of the present moment. FitzGerald's translation, while taking considerable liberties to capture the spirit of the original, creates a distinctively English voice reminiscent of the Roman poets Lucretius and Horace. The work is characterized by a pure atmosphere and exquisite melody, appealing to readers who seek poetry that resonates with both intellectual depth and emotional resonance. The collection also features *Salámán and Absál*, a narrative poem by Jami depicting the trials of love and the conflict between worldly desire and spiritual wisdom. The story follows the young Salámán, who falls for the beautiful Absál, facing opposition from his father, the Shah, and a wise Sage. Despite their counsel, Salámán succumbs to his passion, eventually fleeing with Absál to a mystical island. The volume is enriched by a life of FitzGerald, detailing his friendships, translations of Greek drama, and simple life at Woodbridge, and an essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson on the nature of Persian poetry. The work is characterized by its pure atmosphere, exquisite melody, and the profound interplay between agnosticism and fatalism, appealing to readers who seek poetry that resonates with both intellectual depth and emotional resonance.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Biography
• Poetry
• Essays