O, How Dry I am! [1922's Rubaiyat of Ohow Dryyam] presented by Mira Batti

Who’s heard of Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám? Not me! That is until I had to read and understand it for an English course. Woe is me! I’ve never been much of a reader, so when poor ‘ole me had been tasked to take on an old Persian, philosophical book about religion and death with a dash of skepticism thrown into the salad bowl? Let me tell you, I was not looking forward to it. But we’re here now, so you can guess how that went.

In 1859, an English translation came out, by FitzGerald, marking a new age for Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám- which had been in the dust before this…

In the description, we had talked about how Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám had become a popular gifting book after FitzGerald’s first translation in the 1800s. There are many factors which cause it to become popular, but the one we’ll go over is called ‘Orientalism’. It is when Eastern Asian culture is described, mainly in a Western lens. Barbara Black explains this issue in her work, On Exhibit: Victorians and Their Museums: “Khayyám’s Rubáiyát became thoroughly objectified” (1). As far as translations go, there’s only so many exactly-the-same definition words in-…

This is the first illustration in the book, and it is a clear tone-setter for the entire theme of the Prohibition-centered parody. Some might say, ‘of course illustrations lend to a bigger picture’, but I would say that this one especially does the job. The government does not see citizens as people, as people who live and laugh and love, but a vote to obtain for their next election, or sheep to herd in their next law- that’s what J.L. Duff sets the tone as in the first stanza, and strengthens it with the illustration of two scientists: equating calculative, precise scientists to…

All books tell stories within the pages, but all books have stories as to WHY they were made- in the real world. We’ve gone over the basics about Rubáiyát of Ohow Dryyam and what it depicts: how difficult sobriety was during the Prohibition era of the 1920s. From that, we can assume that’s why it was made, to be a piece of propaganda against the ruling, as Rubáiyát of Ohow Dryyam was published in 1922. Published only two years after the act, so we see how impactful the Prohibition was to the public. But why Rubáiyát of Ohow Dryyam? Why did J.L. Duff create this?…

Dear Ol’ Dad,

I know you miss drinking. Prohibition hasn’t been nice on us. Hasn’t been nice on any of us. Hell, I just got a new book, looks like it’s been through worse: yellow, and tattered around the edges. Bought it from a seller for a penny, wondering why someone would sell something in poor condition. Would’ve asked, but he moved right after. That’s when I opened it, and read. Couldn’t believe my eyes!

Listen to this: “And still the Morals-tinkers plot and plan/ New, sterner, stricter Statutes to indite.” The author, Duff-something, knows a jab or two, must be from the…