The book presents the text of Edward FitzGerald's three main versions of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, together with non-technical commentary on the origins, role and influence of the poem, including the story of its publication. The commentary also addresses the many spin-offs the poem has generated in the fields of art and music, as well as its message and its worldwide influence during the 150 years since its first appearance.

Thirty Years Later: "The Oyster and the Pearl" is a delightful, endearing read that puts a smile on your face from start to finish. It chronicles the chance meeting, courtship, and ultimate marriage of two people who seemingly have nothing in common. It delves into the deep commitment they developed to each other, to their marriage, and to a happy family life. It will make you laugh, and it will make you cry as it maintains your keen interest until the very last page. Whether you are married, single, or contemplating marriage, this romance elicits emotion that all can identify with. If you have ever fallen in love, this book is for you. Thirty Years Later: "The Oyster and the Pearl" is the first of a three-part series, each one leaving you anxiously desiring to read more. Enjoy

Its lines and verses have become part of the western literary canon and his translation of this most famous of poems has been continuously in print in for almost a century and a half. But just who was Edward FitzGerald? Was he the eccentric recluse that most scholars would have us believe? Is there more to the man than just his famous translation? In The Man Behind the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam William Martin and Sandra Martin go beyond the standard view. Drawing on their unique analysis of the more than 2,000 surviving letters of FitzGerald, together with evidence from his scrapbooks, commonplace books and materials from his personal library, they reveal a more convivial yet complex personality than we have been led to suppose."