Full Description
Its lines and verses have become part of the western literary canon and his translation of this most famous of poems has been continuously in print in for almost a century and a half. But just who was Edward FitzGerald? Was he the eccentric recluse that most scholars would have us believe? Is there more to the man than just his famous translation? In The Man Behind the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam William Martin and Sandra Martin go beyond the standard view. Drawing on their unique analysis of the more than 2,000 surviving letters of FitzGerald, together with evidence from his scrapbooks, commonplace books and materials from his personal library, they reveal a more convivial yet complex personality than we have been led to suppose."
Contents
Contents
Introduction - The Man behind the Rubáiyát
Acknowledgements
A brief chronology of the life of Edward FitzGerald
Note on the quotations from the letters
List of illustrations
Part 1
Learning about FitzGerald from his own words
- the relationships and events that shaped his life
1. Edward FitzGerald, a man of letters
2. 1809-29 - FitzGerald's early years
3. 1830-40 - A young man on the move
4. 1841-55 - Finding his feet as a writer
5. 1856-59 - Creating the Rubáiyát despite personal crises
6. 1860-71 - New interests in East Anglian life
7. 1872-83 - Renewal of literary pursuits and contacts
8. A new appreciation of Edward FitzGerald
Part 2
Insights into Victorian life and opinions
- as portrayed by FitzGerald in his letters
9. A window on the world of the 19th century
10. Writing and reading
FitzGerald's own writings
Contemporary poetry
Contemporary novels
Other contemporary writing
Greek and Latin classics Shakespeare
Other English classics
French, Italian and German literature Spanish literature Persian literature and other oriental works Writings by FitzGerald's friends
Miscellaneous writings
11. The arts Theatre
Music Pictures and artworks
12. Family and friends FitzGerald family
School friends University friends
Neighbours
Literary friends
Artistic friends
Other friends and acquaintances
13. Other interests and views
Current affairs
Religion
Travel
Leisure activities
Nature and countryside
Food and drink
Personal matters
Part 3
Background information and additional analyses
Appendix 1 - The people whom FitzGerald knew
Appendix 2 - The places where FitzGerald lived and stayed
Appendix 3 - FitzGerald's library and literary remains
Appendix 4 - A statistical analysis of FitzGerald's letters
Bibliography
Notes and references
Index
