A beautifully illustrated edition of the Rubáiyát, the celebrated collection of Persian quatrains attributed to the eleventh-century poet, mathematician and astronomer Omar Khayyám, best known in English through Edward FitzGerald's poetic translation.

Its verses move between the pleasures of earthly existence and the uncertainties of mortality, questioning religious certainty, human ambition and the possibility of knowing what lies beyond death. Wine, gardens, dust and the passing seasons become recurring images through which to contemplate the brevity of life.

This edition features the extraordinary artwork of Hungarian-born illustrator Willy Pogány, whose richly atmospheric paintings and elaborate decorative lettering bring an almost dreamlike quality to the poetry. Intricate floral borders, Persian-inspired ornamentation, illuminated verse and colour illustrations make the book as much a visual experience as a literary one, particularly lovely for readers interested in illustrated poetry, book design and the history of decorative art.

Magna Books, 1992. Illustrated hardcover. Good vintage condition, with some light shelf wear and minor signs of age.