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.

This volume of essays is based on a conference held in July 2009 at Trinity College, Cambridge to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of Edward FitzGerald (1809) and the 150th anniversary of the first publication of his 'Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam' (1859). The 'Rubaiyat', loosely based on the verses attributed to the eleventh-century Persian writer, Omar Khayyam, has become one of the most widely known poems in the world, republished virtually every year from 1879 (the year of FitzGerald's fourth edition) to the present day, and translated into over eighty different languages. And yet, with a few exceptions, it has been systematically ignored or at best patronized by the academic establishment. This volume sets out to explore the reasons for both the popularity and the neglect. Broadly speaking, the essays are divided into two main blocks. The first six chapters focus primarily on the poem's literary qualities (including consideration of its place in the tradition of verse translation into English, the idea of 'nothingness', and 'syntax and sexuality'), the last five on aspects of its reception (including essays on the late-Victorian Omar Khayyam Club, on American parodies, and on the many illustrated editions). They are linked by three essays that address key 'facilitators' in the poem's transmission (including the significant but neglected issue of cheap reprints).

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."

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