14 December 2009 to 21 February 2010
Folio Society Gallery, The British Library
96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB

Organised by:  The British Library

To mark the 150th anniversary of Edward FitzGerald's publication of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, the British Library is exhibiting a wide selection of richly illustrated editions of the poem, together with fascinating background information on its long history.

Selected miniature editions of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, the largest of which is under three inches tall (publication dates ranging from 1900-1916) Image courtesy of the Harry Ransom Center

Programme

At 1pm there will be a free lunchtime recital of Persian classical music by Vida Edalat and the Saba Ensemble with readings from Omar Khayyam by Lobat Vala and Narguess Farzad (School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London).

At 6.30pm an evening of readings, presentations and music will commence at the Library. Contributions will include Lobat Vala and Narguess Farzad with Vida Edalat and the Saba Ensemble; a recitation of Fitzgerald's Rubaiyat by Emily Bruni and Michael Maloney, and introductions to Omar Khayyam by Francois de Blois (School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London) and to Edward FitzGerald by Tony Briggs, editor of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Tickets priced £7.50 (£5 concessions) are available at boxoffice.bl.uk, by calling 01937 546546 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri) or in person at The British Library.
 

H.J. Ford's watercolor painting of the Rubaiyat's most famous stanza, undated
Image courtesy of the Harry Ransom Center

The main building
09.30 - 18.00 Mon, Wed, Thur and Fri
09.30 - 20.00 Tue
09.30 - 17.00 Sat
11.00 - 17.00 Sun and Public Holidays

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