Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, and Salámán and Absál

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The 1859 translation of Persian quatrains by Edward FitzGerald introduces readers to the profound musings of Omar Khayyam, known as the "Astronomer-Poet of Persia." Initially met with little success, the work gained popularity through the efforts of Whitley Stokes and was embraced by the Pre-Raphaelites. A third edition in 1872 sparked further interest, particularly in the U.S., leading to a widespread cultural phenomenon by the 1880s, including the formation of "Omar Khayyam clubs" and a notable "fin de siècle cult" surrounding the poetry.