Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam: a paraphrase from several literal translations

What it is

This is a printed book from 1901 containing a verse paraphrase of the Rubaiyat attributed to Omar Khayyám. It was created by combining several literal translations into a new English poetic version, and the scanned copy is held by the Internet Archive.

Why it matters

The Rubaiyat became famous in the English-speaking world largely through adaptations like this one, long after Khayyám's death. Comparing different paraphrases shows how much a translator's choices shape what readers believe a historical figure "said," and how the image of Khayyám as a poet was built up over centuries in the West.

Look closer

• Why might a book call itself a "paraphrase from several literal translations" rather than a direct translation?
• What might be lost or added when a poem passes through several translators before reaching English readers?
• How does this book's existence tell us something about Khayyám's reputation long after his lifetime?