Umar Khayyam and His Age (Classic Reprint)

Otto Rothfield

ISBN 10: 0282193898 / ISBN 13: 9780282193898

Published by Forgotten Books, 2018

About this Item

Print on Demand. This book delves into the life and works of the renowned Persian poet, Umar Khayyam, exploring his influence and the historical context of his era. The author demonstrates the ways in which Umar's writings reflected the spirit of his time, a period of philosophical and scientific inquiry during the 11th and 12th centuries. Drawing parallels between the poet's life and the broader developments within Persian culture, including its interaction with other civilizations, this book offers insights into the evolution of Islamic thought and the legacy of Persian literature. It examines the main themes explored in Umar Khayyam's poetry, such as skepticism, the pursuit of pleasure, and the search for meaning in a transient world. Ultimately, the book highlights the significance of Umar Khayyam's work, which continues to captivate readers with its timeless reflections on human nature, faith, and the complexities of existence. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book.

Seller Inventory # 9780282193898_0

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Umar Khayyam and His Age (Classic Reprint)
• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication Date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0282193898
• ISBN 13: 9780282193898
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Book Type: print-on-demand item
• Seller catalogs:
  • Essays

About this title

Synopsis

Exploring Umar Khayyam and His Age reveals how a great poet fit into a changing world.

This expert study places the Quatrains in the historical and spiritual context of Islam’s golden age, showing how Persian culture shaped the Abbasid era and later civilizations. It combines literary insight with a clear portrait of the people, ideas, and events that surrounded Umar Khayyam.

The book frames Umar’s life in the wider currents of 11th‑ and 12th‑century Turko‑Persian society, from the Seljuk rise to the Crusades. It discusses how philosophers like Avicenna and Al Ghazzali influenced thought, and how religious reform and political turmoil colored much of the era. Through careful analysis, the work connects Umar’s poetry to the shifting faiths, science, and culture of his time, while discussing how later translators rendered his quatrains for readers today.
What you’ll experience

• A clear picture of the historical world Umar Khayyam lived in, including key rulers and events.
• An explanation of how Persian influence shaped Islamic civilization during his lifetime.
• A focused look at the poet’s life, legends, and social status, grounded in historical detail.
• Discussion of how the quatrains have been translated and celebrated in modern poetry.

Ideal for readers of literary history and those curious about how poetry can reflect a civilization’s ideas, tensions, and transformations.