This important work marks the first attempt to look at Khayyam's impact on the worlds of science, philosophy, and poetry. Uniting a personal journey with scholarly ambition, Aminrazavi's work debunks the myths surrounding the legend to uncover the real Khayyam

Known primarily in the West for his poem, The Rubaiyyat, Omar Khayyam was far more than an aesthete. A mathematician and philosopher as well as something of a heretic in 11th-century Persia, he challenged religious doctrines that readers in both cultures found highly secularist and deeply antireligious, making him something of a darling to rationalists like Voltaire. As Aminrazavi (philosophy & religion, Mary Washington Coll., Fredericksburg, VA) points out, Khayyam ultimately serves as a mirror for Western Victorian consciousness-those who like what they see praise him, those who don't view him as emblematic of the moral degeneration of civilized culture. Aminrazavi then offers a comprehensive view of Khayyam for English-speaking audiences, introducing not only Edward Fitzgerald's magisterial translation of The Rubaiyyat but also historical context on the poet-scientist, including a rerereading of his Sufism, philosophical thought, scientific contributions, and ever-changing reception in the West. The appendixes provide translations of Khayyam's philosophical treatises and other Arabic poems, which alone makes this a valuable work. Engaging and readable, this is recommended for Islamic, medieval history, and philosophy collections.-Sandra Collins, Univ. of Pittsburgh Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.