This exquisite edition of The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám pairs Edward FitzGerald’s iconic English translation of the Persian quatrains with the sumptuous illustrations of Edmund Dulac, one of the foremost illustrators of the Golden Age of Illustration. The Rubáiyát is a collection of meditative, often philosophical verses attributed to the 11th-century Persian poet Omar Khayyám, exploring themes of fate, transience, love, and the pleasures of life.
Dulac’s 1909 edition contains 20 full-color tipped-in plates and is celebrated for its rich, atmospheric visual interpretations, this edition is an early reprint ca. 1940s. His intricate designs—heavily inspired by Persian miniatures and Art Nouveau—elevate the mood of the poetry, evoking a dreamlike East full of jeweled tones, ornate patterns, and languid figures. His use of deep blues, golds, and purples complements the introspective, sensual tone of FitzGerald’s verse.
