Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam, Rendered into English Verse

by Omar Khayyam

"Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam, Rendered into English Verse by Omar Khayyam" is a translation published in 1859 by Edward FitzGerald of Persian quatrains attributed to the medieval astronomer-poet Omar Khayyam. Initially unsuccessful, the work gained immense popularity throughout the English-speaking world, inspiring countless editions and Omar Khayyam clubs. The poems sparked enduring debate about their true meaning: were they expressions of religious skepticism and Epicurean philosophy, or mystical Sufi verses misunderstood by the translator? The authenticity of the original Persian quatrains themselves remains uncertain.