COVE

This 1951 edition of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám is a charming and quite mysterious little book. It presents itself to readers through its rust-colored cloth boards, a black buckram spine featuring delicate golden stars, and a very noticeable small golden cameo of Shakespeare cover against a reddish leather background appearing in the bottom right side of the cover. Like many other editions prior, the book brings together the poetry of Persian scholar Omar Khayyám, translated by Edward FitzGerald, and the beautiful illustrations by Edmund J. Sullivan. The book was published by Shakespeare House, a New York publisher without much public knowledge thus creating an enigmatic atmosphere around this beautifully crafted book.

Firstly, this edition features Edward FitzGerald’s first edition translation, originally published anonymously in 1859. FitzGerald’s translation was not an immediate success, but over time it gained enormous popularity due to its lyrical beauty and very thought-provoking existential themes. His translation is known for its poetic freedom, reshaping Khayyám’s original verses to appeal to Victorian sensibilities, emphasizing themes he found personally meaningful, such as a hopeful existentialism. This translation became both widely celebrated and controversial, admired for its undeniable poetic charm yet criticized for significantly altering the meaning of the Persian original.

The Illustrations for this edition were created by Edmund J. Sullivan (1869–1933), a very prominent British illustrator famous for his elaborate and detailed pen-and-ink drawings. Sullivan, who first illustrated FitzGerald’s Rubáiyát in 1913, was known for his distinctive style that blended Victorian intricacy, British traditional drawing and the elegance of the Art Nouveau, an ornamental and dynamic art style of the early 20th century characterized for often depicting objects in nature such as vines and flower stalks. Throughout his career, Sullivan illustrated works by literary giants such as Shakespeare, and Carlyle, consistently imbuing his artwork with such meticulous detail. His experience illustrating these literary classics along with his art style made him more than the perfect choice to illustrate the Rubáiyát, as his illustrations enriched every stanza, adding to them so much charm and even depth, truly bringing FitzGerald interpretation to life. 

That’s only the start because the Shakespeare House edition of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám becomes even more intriguing given the mysterious identity of its publisher. Shakespeare House operated briefly around 1951 in New York, and only released a carefully curated series of classics, mostly contemporary fiction, opera librettos, and a cookbook. According to the bibliographic site Series of Series, Shakespeare House describes their books as luxurious items meant explicitly for refined home libraries, with decorative 24-carat gold-edged paper and a commitment to quality craftsmanship and legibility. However, beyond these marketing details, very little is known about Shakespeare House itself. Library databases and other online resources reveal minimal information other than the books of their catalog, but no clear historical records remain apart from an office building address in New York. The catalog from 1951 serves as the only evidence of their publication activities according to WorldCat listings which all bear the same copyright year. One could argue that this quite elusive history gives more charm to the edition, turning it into something more than a finely made collectible, such as a time capsule of its time.

The book was released in the post-World War II era, a period of renewed cultural interest and prosperity in America. The 1950s were marked by economic growth, and a rising middle class who enjoyed an increase of free time, creating a very strong market for elegantly produced literary and collectible books. Shakespeare House clearly recognized that and catered to this demographic, offering editions that appealed both intellectually and aesthetically.

Bibliography: 

“Illustrations of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam by Edmund J. Sullivan.” Victorianweb.org, victorianweb.org/art/illustration/sullivan/rubaiyat.html.

Khayyám, Omar . Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. Translated by Edward FitzGerald, New York, Shakespeare House, 1951.

“Shakespeare House – a Series of Series.” Seriesofseries.com, 2025, seriesofseries.com/shakespeare-house/. Accessed May 25, 2025.

Worldcat.org , 2025, search.worldcat.org/es/search?q=pb%3ASakespeare+House&datePublished=1950-2000&limit=10&offset=11. Accessed May 25, 2025.

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