Exhibit:

Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, Sett, M. K. edition

Preview of images

cover of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám in the dark green and gilt gold cloth with the Art Deco typeface 59 loose pages inside the unbound edition of the book one of the many illustrations that "shocked" some readers due to the nudity and

 

This exhibit features a rare and distinctive edition of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, a collection of quatrains by the Persian poet, mathematician, and philosopher Omar Khayyám, whose literary reputation flourished through Edward FitzGerald’s influential 1859 English translation. FitzGerald’s rendering introduced themes of life’s transience, the inevitability of death, and the importance of savoring the present, echoing carpe diem philosophies and subtle critiques of religious dogma. These enduring ideas have captivated readers for generations, securing the Rubáiyát's place as a classic in world literature.

One particular 1946 edition by D.B. Taraporevala Sons & Co., illustrated by Indian artist Mera Ben Kavas Sett, reflects both artistic boldness and cultural controversy. Sett’s introduction laments the decline of true art in the face of rising vulgarity, recounting his struggles with publishers who deemed his daring, nude-themed illustrations "shocking" for respectable British sensibilities. Housed unbound in an ornate green and gold casing with hand-designed lettering, this edition challenges colonial-era norms of propriety and censorship. Through its visual and poetic dialogue, the book becomes a striking testament to artistic freedom and the enduring relevance of Khayyám’s contemplative themes.

Images in this Exhibit

Description of the Edition
cover of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám in the dark green and gilt gold cloth with the Art Deco typeface 59 loose pages inside the unbound edition of the book one of the many illustrations that "shocked" some readers due to the nudity and

Omar Khayyám, born in 1048, was a Persian poet who was also interested in mathematics, astronomy, philosophy. Although he wasn’t known in his lifetime for his poetry, it was after he passed that his poetry earned him lasting fame, particularly through the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. This collection of quatrains, or rubáiyát, was introduced to the English-speaking world by Edward FitzGerald in 1859, whose translation brought Khayyám’s verses to life in a new cultural and literary context. FitzGerald’s interpretation of Khayyám's poetry emphasizes themes such as nature of life is...
Gift Books and Orientalism

In On Exhibit: Victorians and Their Museums, Barbara J. Black discusses the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám as an example of how Victorian museum culture and literature shared a common theme of collecting, display, and aestheticization. She connects the popularity of the Rubáiyát with the Victorian fascination with the exotic, the antique, and the ornamental. As Black notes, “The implications of the Rubáiyát's reception are as revealing as those of its translation: Khayyám's Rubaiyat became thoroughly objectified — on the one hand, the idol of a cultic...
Close Reading of Image + Text

Stanza 60 of this version of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám plays a key role in developing one of the central themes of the book which is the mystery of existence and the human longing to understand it. The stanza presents a dramatic moment of awakening: "​And strange to tell, among that Earthen Lot / Some could articulate, while​ ​others not: / And suddenly one more impatient cried— / 'Who is the Potter, pray, and​ ​who the Pot​?'" Here, Khayyám uses the metaphor of pots questioning their maker to express the human desire to understand the nature of existence, creation,...
History of the Edition

What I find most interesting about the history of this version of the Rubáiyát was how little is known about the illustrator outside of what he's done for this edition. What I was able to find about this version of the Rubáiyát was all due to the title page, the author's note, and the introduction. On the title page, the title, translator, illustrator, publisher, publisher’s address, and the price were all laid out for me. Something easy I was able to discover was the price. The very bottom of the title page reads, “Price: Twelve Rupees.” In 1946, when this edition is...
Archival Speculation

Dear Miki,

Knowing how picky you are with your novels, I am gifting this book to you after searching long and hard for the perfect version for you. The illustrator of this book, like you, is a lover of beautiful things. You’ll find in the beginning of this version of the Rubáiyát an introduction where the illustrator, M. K. Sett, states, “[D. B. Taraporevala Sons & Co.] inform me there is a class of discriminating public who still love beauty and who appreciate it.” I believe you to be a part of this ‘discriminating public.’ Though trivial, your favorite color, green,...